Source: Health Department of Northwest Michigan Press Release (05/19/21)
The arrival of spring and more outdoor activities leads to an increased risk of human-tick interactions. Annually, ticks begin to wake from winter dormancy with mild spring weather. With warmer weather in recent weeks, many residents have begun seeing an increase in ticks.
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan wants to educate residents on ways to prevent tick bites before they head outside to enjoy northern Michigan’s spring. It is important to be prepared as tick encounters increase the chance of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis and Babesiosis.
As you begin taking time to get outside, whether walking, hiking, running, cycling, gardening, or landscaping, the proper precautions include:
• Use repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours.
• Wear clothing that has been treated with permethrin.
• After coming indoors, check your clothing and body for ticks, looking at the areas that ticks tend to bite.
• When coming in from outdoors, put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 60 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.
• Take a shower as soon as you can after coming indoors.
• Check pets thoroughly for ticks after they spend time outdoors. If you find a tick, remove right away. Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention.
Questions regarding ticks and other vectors in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties should be directed to the Health Department of Northwest Michigan’s Environmental Health Division at 800-432-4121. Health related questions should be directed to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at 800-648-6942.
Additional information regarding ticks and Lyme disease can be found here:
• Lyme Disease – MDHHS
• Ticks, Lyme Disease – MDHHS
• Lyme Disease – CDC
• Tick Bite Prevention in Michigan’s Outdoors – How to prevent and remove – MDHHS
• Tick ID, Tick-borne Diseases – CDC
• Tick Bites – Prevention and Removal – CDC
