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Americans Increasingly Sickened By Ticks
Wednesday March 29, 5:09 am ET
May-July is Prime Time for Precautions
WASHINGTON, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans are increasingly developing
tick-borne illnesses -- most commonly Lyme disease -- due to ever-changing
ecosystems and development in the countryside. With warmer weather bringing
ticks and people into contact, experts urge consumers to protect against the
tiny parasites, including using repellents, says the DEET Education Program,
a repellent industry initiative to provide information to consumers and
healthcare professionals.
"People are moving into wooded rural areas, which are prime tick habitats,"
says Marc Dolan, entomologist with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. He says numerous tick-borne diseases exist in America and ticks
often transmit multiple infections. One reason for the spread of Lyme, which
is transmitted by deer ticks, is the growth and geographical spread of the
whitetail deer population that is a host for the Lyme bacteria.
The CDC reports a dramatic increase in Lyme in recent years, from 11,700
cases in 1995 to 21,304 last year. While reporting has improved, the CDC
says Lyme still is "greatly underreported." Most prevalent in the Northeast
and upper Midwest, Lyme is found nationwide.
"Tick-borne diseases can be found all across the country, and Lyme has been
reported in every state except Montana," says Pat Smith, president of the
Lyme Disease Association. Two of her daughters developed Lyme and one became
so ill she could not attend school for four years.
Lyme can be devastating if not treated early. Another tick-borne disease,
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, can be fatal. It is most common in the South,
despite the name, with the highest incidence in North Carolina. U.S. cases
increased dramatically to 1,843 last year from 695 in 2001.
Experts suggest some simple but effective measures to protect against ticks.
"When you’re in the woods from early May to early July, the nymphal (young)
ticks that carry Lyme disease are most active, so you should use a repellent
such as DEET on exposed skin and clothing," Dolan says. "The young ticks are
very small and difficult to spot, which is another reason why Lyme disease
is such a problem."
To repel ticks, the CDC recommends using DEET products with concentration
levels of 20 to 30 percent. Repellent makers say, based on extensive
testing, 15 percent DEET repels ticks. Dolan suggests applying permethrin to
clothing (never on skin). It’s helpful to wear light-colored clothing to
better find ticks and wear long pants with the cuffs tucked under the socks.
Dolan strongly recommends performing a thorough tick check after coming
indoors from a tick-infested area. If a tick is attached to the skin for
less than 24 hours, the possibility of infection is extremely low. Tick
checks involve closely examining clothing and skin for ticks, with special
attention to the ears, in and around the hair, under the arms, behind the
knees, around the waist and between the legs.
When a tick is found attached, it’s critical to detach it properly using
tweezers because incorrect removal makes infection more likely (instructions
at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ticktips2005/).
"When applied with common sense, DEET-based repellents can be expected to
provide a safe as well as long-lasting repellent effect," according to a New
England Journal of Medicine study. The American Academy of Pediatrics says
repellents containing up to 30 percent DEET can be used on children over two
months of age.
"For nearly 50 years, DEET has been the gold standard for effectiveness
against mosquitoes, ticks and many other insects," says Susan Little, DEET
Education Program executive director, who urges consumers to carefully
follow label instructions.
The DEET Education Program (888-No-Bites, http://www.deetonline.org)
provides free educational brochures in English and Spanish.
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Source: DEET Education Program
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