Tick Brochure, 2017 Field Results

WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT TICK How to Remove a Tick: Tick-BorneBORNE DISEASES? Diseases in the Don’t panic. Not all ticks are infected, and North CountryBlacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, live your risk of acquiring Lyme disease is greatlyin shady, moist areas at ground level. They will reduced if the tick is removed within the rstcling to tall grass, brush and shrubs, usually no 36 hours after attachment.more than 18-24 inches o the ground. Theyalso live in lawns and gardens, especially at the REMOVE THE TICK PROMPTLY ANDedges of woods and around old stone walls. PROPERLY:Deer ticks cannot jump or y, and do not droponto passing people or animals. They get on •Using ne pointed tweezers, grasp the tick ashumans and animals only by direct contact. close to skin as possible.Once a tick gets on the skin, it generally climbsupward until it reaches a protected area. •Gently pull the tick in a steady, upward motion.In tick-infested areas, the best protection is to •Wash the area with a disinfectant.avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation.However, if you garden, hike, camp, hunt, work, •Monitor the bite site for 30 days for expandingor otherwise spend time in the outdoors, you red rash, and consult your physician if you feelcan still protect yourself and your pets... unwell following a tick bite.•Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave When trying to remove the tick:to spot ticks easily. •DO NOT touch the tick with your bare hands.•Regularly check for ticks on yourself whenoutside. •DO NOT squeeze the body of the tick as this may increase your risk of infection.•Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and along-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or •DO NOT put alcohol, nail polish remover orboots and shirt into pants. vaseline on the tick. This may increase your risk of infection.•Consult your veterinarian about treating yourdog or cat with tick-killing pesticides •DO NOT put a hot match or cigarette on the(acaricides), and using tick collars. tick in an e ort to make it “back out”. This may increase your risk of infection.•There is currently a Lyme disease vaccineavailable for dogs. However, there are varying blacklegged tickopinions on its e ectiveness. Consult your (Ixodes scapularis)veterinarian about the vaccine. Adult Female Adult Male Nymph LarvaFrom: www.health.ny.gov/publications/2825/ *actual size

Blacklegged tick Disease causing agents in Lyme disease in humans increased in all populations in the these blacklegged ticks North Country counties. (see below) North Country In the fall of 2017, a total of 498 ticks Lyme Disease Cases Reported in were collected from 16 of the 39 sites ,-./!012/32/N!43e2w*/w2w!Y5w/.oh6era7lkt8h9.n/Sy:.gt!o1va;!t<e/=!>78?!@939/ During the fall of 2017, surveillance for surveyed, and were tested for presence of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) was pathogens. Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative $\"\"\"\" %\"\"' %\"\"( %\"\"* %\"$\" %\"$% %\"$' %\"$( '#\" conducted at 39 sites in six North Country agent of Lyme disease, was found in +\"\"\" '\"\" counties (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, blacklegged tick populations throughout the *\"\"\" &#\" Hamilton, Herkimer and St. Lawrence). North Country. The average infection rate for )\"\"\" &\"\" Blacklegged tick population density was Borrelia burgdorferi was 47.5%. Infection rates (\"\"\" %#\" highest at the lowest elevations, but among the sites varied from 0-85%. Risk of #\"\"\" %\"\" ticks were also found at higher Lyme disease exposure is likely present, even '\"\"\" $#\" elevations sites (exceeding 1600 in very low density tick areas. &\"\"\" $\"\" feet). Tick densities are still patchy, Babesia microti, the malaria-like parasite %\"\"\" #\" but there is risk of encounter which causes babesiosis in humans, was $\"\"\" \" throughout the North County found at two sites in the North Country in \" %\"$* 2016, both near the Clinton/Essex county %\"\"% 7LFTNick'DDžQenVsLWitLiDžeVsLinQA$dGirLUoRnQdGacƭkFNCo&uRnXtiQeWsLDžV border. In 2017, a significant geographic range spread was observed, with B. microti @939/=1:/ <789A!47B;98- Legend detected at five sites located in Clinton, Essex, Franklin and St. Lawrence counties. ! Low Tick Density Medium Tick Density *The New York State Dept. of Health conducted A small number of cases of human babesiosis High Tick Density pathogen testing as part of a statewide tick-borne have been reported in Essex and Clinton Counties since 2015.Northern New York tick collection sites in fall 2017. pathogen surveillance. Dogs are good sentinels for Lyme disease risk Incidence of Lyme Disease in humans. The percent of dogs in each in the North Country county testing positive for Lyme disease exposure as of March 2018 are shown below Whereas incidence of Lyme disease (capcvet.org). throughout New York State has remained fairly steady over the past two decades, % of dogs testing positive for incidences have risen sharply in the North Lyme exposure Country. From 2010-2016, the incidence of Clinton County 13% Essex County 13% Franklin County 30% St. Lawrence County 23% New York State 11%