September Health Ministry Update: Fight the Bite

Fight the Bite! Summer may be ending but tick and mosquito season isn’t over yet!

Ticks and mosquitoes are everywhere in North Carolina and their bites can cause serious diseases.

Ticks are commonly found in wooded, bushy, high-grass areas but they can be found almost anywhere. Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other tick-borne diseases can cause fever, headache, rashes, flu-like illness, and other symptoms that can be severe. Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness (STARI) and Alpha-gal syndrome, an allergic reaction to red (mammalian) meat have been linked to the bite of certain ticks.

Mosquito-borne diseases most often seen in North Carolina are West Nile virus (WNV), eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and La Crosse encephalitis (LAC). While most people experience mild or no symptoms of these diseases, a few can become seriously ill. Symptoms may include sudden headaches, high fever, chills, and vomiting.

Taking preventative measures to avoid tick and mosquito bites can help you to stay healthy.

• Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent such as DEET or an equivalent on exposed skin when outside, follow label instructions, and use caution when applying to children.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks when outdoors. Light-colored clothing will allow ticks to be more readily seen.

• Treat your clothing with products with .5% permethrin when in wooded areas.

• Avoid being outside without protection during the early dawn and twilight hours.

• Check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks within 2 hours if you've been in wooded, grassy, and bushy areas. Prompt tick removal is the key to preventing illnesses. Contact your doctor if you experience symptoms after a tick bite.

• “Tip and “Toss” Empty standing water from items like flower pots, buckets, etc. around your home to reduce the chance of mosquitoes breeding.

• Replace your outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights, which tend to attract fewer mosquitoes.