July 03, 2008
Cases of Lyme Disease Increases in Onondaga County
Cynthia B. Morrow, MD, MPH Commissioner of Health announced today that Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) has seen a dramatic increase in the number of locally acquired cases of laboratory confirmed Lyme disease. Historically, an average of 10 cases of Lyme disease are reported to Health Department every year, of those reported cases, only 1 or 2 cases have been considered locally acquired (i.e. diagnosed in individuals who have not recently traveled outside of the County to a high risk area). This year, the Health Department has already received 17 reports of Lyme disease of which 14 are locally acquired. At this time, cases are concentrated in the Fayetteville-Manlius area although there are reports of cases in other areas of Onondaga County.
Dr. Morrow explained, "This increase of Lyme disease cases is a critical reminder to all Onondaga County residents to remain vigilant in protecting yourself and your family against ticks. Extra precautions are necessary during May, June, and July because these are the months when ticks that transmit Lyme disease are most active".
Morrow further explained that most cases of Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, especially if treatment is begun early in the course of the illness.
It is essential to control ticks around your home and on your body by following these precautionary measures:
Keep ticks away
§ Remove leaf litter and clear tall grasses and brush around your home
§ Mow your lawn often
§ Keep the ground under bird feeders clean
§ Stack wood neatly and in dry areas
§ Keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees
Keep ticks off your skin
§ Avoid wooded areas with high grass and leaf litter where ticks prefer to live
§ Use an insect repellent with 20% -30% DEET on exposed skin and on your clothing. (Follow manufacturers instructions on proper use). Permethrin, a tick repellent, that kills ticks on contact can be used on clothing to decrease the risk of tick exposure. One application to pants, socks, and shoes often is effective through several washings. (Follow manufacturers instruction on proper use)
§ Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks to keep ticks off your skin. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots to help keep ticks on the outside of clothing
§ Do daily tick checks after being outdoors, even in your own yard. Look over your body carefully including your armpits, scalp, and groin.
§ Remove ticks from your clothes before going indoors
§ Wash clothes in hot water and dry them using high heat for at least one hour to kill ticks that may be in the clothing
Keep deer away
§ Do not feed deer on your property
§ Make a physical barrier to keep deer from entering your yard
§ Check with a garden center about plants that help to keep deer away
The first sign of infection is usually a circular rash at the site of the tick bite. If you think you may have been exposed to ticks, contact your health care provider right away. For more information about Lyme disease visit www: cdc.gov.
|
|
|
|
