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Time again to watch for ticks

Spring has been somewhat slow in establishing itself in the Upper Peninsula this year, with snow and freezing nights lasting into May.

The region might better tolerate such lingering cold if it could at least delay one unwelcome, dangerous part of being outdoors from returning — but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Area residents already are reporting ticks turning up on themselves and their pets. While just plain nasty parasites, ticks also pose a threat beyond having one treat you like a pig at the trough.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Though Lyme disease has been a concern in the Upper Peninsula for a number of years, the risk could be worse than ever now, experts said.

The spread of the blacklegged tick — which like the deer tick can carry Lyme — has coincided with a rise in the disease in the state, according to a recent Michigan State University study. The state had fewer than 30 human cases of Lyme disease a year reported from 2000 and 2004, but that jumped to 90 reported cases by 2009. By 2013, it was nearly 170 cases, researchers said.

And officials with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate the number of Lyme disease cases nationwide actually could be 10 times higher than what’s reported.

“With the expansion of blacklegged ticks into new areas in Michigan, the most important way to protect against Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites,” said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive of the MDHHS.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease include the appearance of a rash that typically looks like a red bull’s-eye, according to the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department. Other signs can include flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and fatigue. If left untreated, other symptoms can include additional rashes, pain and swelling in joints, loss of muscle control in the face, severe headaches, and heart palpitations. Severe complications, such as arthritis and joint pain, may be prolonged if left untreated.

So what can you do, besides cowering inside even when the outdoors beckons with warmer temperatures, blooming flowers and lush green growth?

The MDHHS suggests trying these steps to prevent tick bites:

— Avoid tick-infested areas. Walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter at trail edges.

— Protect pets as well. Using tick prevention products on pets is recommended.

— Use insect repellent containing 20 to 30 percent DEET or Picaridin on exposed skin.

— Treat clothes — especially pants, socks, and shoes — with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact or buy clothes that are pre-treated. Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying any repellents.

— Perform daily tick checks. In many cases, a tick must be attached 36 to 48 hours before the Lyme disease bacteria is transmitted. Always check yourself and your animals after being outdoors, even in your own yard. Inspect all body surfaces carefully, and remove attached ticks with tweezers. To remove a tick, grasp it firmly and as closely to the skin as possible, then pull from the skin with a steady motion. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic.

— Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors, preferably within two hours, to wash off and more easily find ticks crawling on you.

— Wash clothing in hot water and dry on high heat to kill ticks in clothing.

For more information about Lyme disease, go to www.cdc.gov/lyme or www.michigan.gov/lyme.

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