JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Jackson County has more than doubled the number of Lyme disease cases observed in a typical year, and is only halfway through the active season.
Jackson County has averaged two cases of Lyme disease per year for the past five years, according to the Jackson County Health Department. There are already five cases in 2020, authorities said.
Ticks are most active in the warmer months of April through September.
There are more ticks in the area and an increased awareness of Lyme disease, which is part of the reason why there are more cases, authorities said.
The mild winter allowed more black-legged ticks to survive than normal, said director of the Environmental Health Division, Don Hayduk. The population has been growing for several years hooking deer and other mammals, including humans, to move to new places, he said.
If an attached tick is removed within 24 hours, Lyme disease is generally prevented, health officials said. Lyme disease has flu-like symptoms, but if left untreated, it can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system. Most cases are successfully treated with antibiotics.
After removing an attached tick, people should monitor themselves for symptoms for up to 30 days, authorities said. That includes looking for a growing skin lesion where the tick bite is located, as that may suggest Lyme disease.
The environmental division of the health department is carrying ticks along trails and other habitats to capture and identify ticks. Mosquito surveillance is also done during the summer.
The health department is carrying out more tick carryover due to the increased number of reported cases, authorities said. While no black-legged ticks have been caught, there is anecdotal evidence that tick populations in the county are increasing.
If people walk in bushes and forested areas, they should apply a product with .5 percent permethrin to clothing or wear clothing that has been treated with it, authorities said. High grass areas should be avoided and people should walk in the center of the trails.
After being outside, clothing should be checked for ticks, removing the ticks. Dry clothing should be put in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks.
Pets and children should also be checked for ticks. Showering within two hours of entry can help remove unattached ticks.
People should check for ticks under the arms, inside the navel, on the waist and back, on the back of the knees, between the legs and the pelvic area and around the hair and ears, according to the statement.
If a tick is found, it should be removed with fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin as possible, pulling upward with constant pressure without twisting or shaking, authorities said. The area where the tick was and the hands should be cleaned with alcohol or soap and water.
The mark must be flushed down the toilet to get rid of it, authorities said.
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