Wednesday, July 27, 2005

County Officials Urge Prevention of Tick-Borne Diseases

Summer is a great time to take advantage of the many outdoor activities that Atlantic County has to offer. County Executive Dennis Levinson reminds residents to enjoy the great outdoors but also to take precautions to avoid tick bites.

"Cases of tick-borne diseases continue to be seen statewide, including Atlantic County. It is important for adults and children to protect themselves against tick bites," he said.

Tick-borne infections are a public health problem for people of all ages, as well as pets. Inland and shore communities are vulnerable to the pervasive presence of ticks in wooded areas and coastal grasslands adjacent to beaches and grassy fields.

"It is unrealistic to eliminate all tick populations, so the best protection against tick-borne disease is prevention and education," stated County Health Officer Patricia Diamond.

Preventive measures are the same for all tick-borne diseases:
* Avoid brush and leaf litter or tall grass when in the woods or tick habitat.
* Wear light colored clothing to spot ticks easily.
* Tuck pants into socks to prevent ticks from reaching the skin.
* Apply tick repellent containing DEET. Be certain to follow label directions, especially with children.
* Most importantly, perform "tick checks" every three to four hours when working or playing outside.
* Remember to also check pets. Consult a veterinarian for recommendations about appropriate tick control products for pets.
* Remove ticks promptly by grasping the tick with tweezers as close as possible to the skin and applying firm, steady backward pressure until the tick is dislodged.


In New Jersey and Atlantic County, Lyme Disease is the most common tick-borne disease reported annually. Other tick-borne diseases seen in New Jersey and Atlantic County include Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Early symptoms of tick-borne disease includes fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue and chills. One of the most distinctive characteristics of Lyme disease is a "bull's-eye" rash that can develop at the tick bite site. A spotted rash may appear on the palms and soles in about 50 percent of patients infected with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Tick-borne diseases are treated using antibiotics. Babesiosis also requires treatment with an antiparasitic agent.

The county's Division of Public Health offers educational sessions covering all tick related illnesses to community groups, upon request. To schedule a presentation or for more information call 609-645-5935. Additional information is also available on the county's Web site at: www.aclink.org/publichealth and the Centers for Disease Control's Web site at: www/cdc.gov.

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