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Tick and Mosquito Season is Here
Ticks are tiny bugs that feed on the blood of animals, birds, or reptiles. Black-legged (deer) ticks and dog ticks are found throughout Massachusetts and may spread different disease-causing germs when they bite you. The most common tick-borne disease in MA and in the United States is Lyme Disease. Other tick-borne diseases in seen in MA include Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis. Tick-borne illnesses can be very severe and taking steps to avoid tick bites is important. Read on to learn about Lyme Disease, Babesiosis, and Anaplasmosis.
Lyme Disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (also known as deer ticks).
- Lyme Disease can produce a wide range of symptoms depending on the stage, including fever, headache, fatigue, a bull's-eye rash (called erythema migrans), facial palsy (weakness or paralysis of the muscles on the face) and arthritis (joint pain)
- If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system
- In most cases, a tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. If you remove a tick quickly (within 24 hours), you can greatly reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease.
- People may be bitten by black-legged (deer) ticks carrying bacteria from the spring through the fall
- Most people can recover with a proper course of antibiotics
- Seek medical attention if you observe any of the symptoms listed above and have had a tick bite
Babesiosis
- Babesiosis is caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells and are spread by certain ticks
- Many people who are infected with Babesia microti feel fine and do not have any symptoms. Some people develop flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, or fatigue.
- Because Babesia parasites infect red blood cells, babesiosis can cause hemolytic anemia (from the destruction of red blood cells)
- Babesiosis can be a severe, life-threatening disease, particularly in people who:
- Do not have a spleen
- Have a weak immune system for other reasons (such as cancer, lymphoma, or HIV)
- Have other serious health conditions (such as liver or kidney disease), or
- Are elderly
- If you are diagnosed with babesiosis through your healthcare provider, know that there is effective treatment available.
Anaplasmosis
- Anaplasmosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. These bacteria are spread to people by tick bites, primarily from the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus).
- People with anaplasmosis will often have fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches
- Rarely, if treatment is delayed or if there are other medical conditions present, anaplasmosis can cause severe illness. Prompt treatment can reduce your risk of developing severe illness
- See your healthcare provider if you become ill after having been bitten by a tick or having been in the woods or in areas with high brush where ticks commonly live.
- Early treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline can prevent severe illness and death
TICK BITE PREVENTION
One of the most important things you can do is check yourself for ticks once a day. Favorite places for ticks to go on your body include:
- areas between the toes
- back of the knees
- groin
- armpits
- neck
- along the hairline
- behind the ears
If you find a tick attached to your skin, don't panic. Use a pair of fine-point tweezers to grip the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out with steady pressure.
- You should not apply kerosene, petroleum jelly, nail polish, or a hot match tip to remove the tick. These measures are not effective and may result in injury
- Circle the calendar date and note where on the body the tick was removed. You may want to save the tick for identification.
- Notify your healthcare provider if you have been bitten by a tick or develop a rash or other signs of illness following a tick bite.
When going outside in an area that is likely to have ticks (grassy or wooded areas):
- Stick to the main pathways and the center of the trails when hiking
- Wear a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt with long pants. If long pants aren't in your summer wardrobe, consider long, light-colored socks. Light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks that might be on them
- Use bug repellents. Repellents that contain DEET can be used on your exposed skin. Permethrin is a product that can be used on your clothes. Always follow the product instructions and use repellents with no more than 30-35% DEET on adults and 10-15% DEET on children. Never use insect repellants on infants.
- Talk to your veterinarian about the best ways to protect your pets and livestock from ticks.
For more information, visit: mass.gov/tick-borne-diseases
Mosquitoes can spread diseases that make you sick. In Massachusetts, mosquitoes can give you eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus or West Nile virus (WNV).
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus. The virus that causes EEE is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. In MA, the virus is most often identified in mosquitoes found in and around wetlands and swampy areas. While humans can get EEE from a mosquito, humans cannot spread EEE to others.
The first symptoms of EEE are fever (103-106 degrees F), stiff neck, headache, and lack of energy. These symptoms show up three to ten days after a bite from an infected mosquito. Inflammation and swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, is the most dangerous and frequent serious complication. The disease gets worse quickly and some patients may go into a coma within a week.
There is no treatment for EEE. In Massachusetts, about half of the people identified with EEE died from the infection. People who survive this disease will often be permanently disabled. Few people recover completely.
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a virus carried by mosquitos that can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to a more serious disease like encephalitis or meningitis.
While WNV is most commonly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, it may also be spread through blood transfusion or organ transplant. There have been rare reports of WNV being passed from pregnant or breastfeeding women, who are infected with WNV, to their babies. Since these reports are rare, the health effects of an unborn or breastfeeding baby are unclear and still being studied. People do not become infected with WNV by having direct contact with other infected people, birds, or animals.
The majority of people who are infected with WNV (approximately 80%) will have no symptoms.
A small number of people who have become infected (~20%) will have symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands. They may also develop a skin rash on the chest, stomach, and back.
Less than 1% of people infected with WNV will develop severe illness, including encephalitis or meningitis. The symptoms of severe illness can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. Persons older than 50 years of age have a higher risk of developing severe illness.
MOSQUITO BITE PREVENTION
Since EEE and WNV are most commonly spread by mosquitoes, here are some things you can do to reduce your chances of being bitten:
- Schedule outdoor events to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
- When you are outdoors, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and socks. This may be difficult to do when the weather is hot, but it will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin
- Use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to the instructions given on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.
- Keep mosquitoes out of your house by repairing any holes in your screens and making sure they are tightly attached to all your doors and windows
- Remove areas of standing water around your home. Here are some suggestions:
- Look around outside your house for containers and other things that might collect water and turn them over, regularly empty them, or dispose of them.
- Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors so that water can drain out
- Clean clogged roof gutters; remove leaves and debris that may prevent drainage of rainwater
- Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use
- Change the water in birdbaths every few days; aerate ornamental ponds or stock them with fish
- Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated; remove standing water from pool covers
- Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property
BRISTOL COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL PROJECT
Bristol County Mosquito Control Project serves the 20 cities and towns within Bristol County, Massachusetts. They reduce mosquito populations through surveillance, water management, biological and chemical controls. All of these methods are performed in an environmentally sensitive manner to minimize potential effects on people, wildlife, and the environment.
The Bristol County Mosquito Control Project will begin taking residential spray requests for adulticiding (pesticide application to kill adult mosquitos) beginning Tuesday, May 28, 2024 with applications to begin on June 2nd between the hours of 2 AM and sunrise, weather permitting. Requests received before May 28th will be disregarded.
To make a request: Residents can call 508-823-5253 or email a spray request to [email protected]. Please include your last name and full address including zip code. Please note that a request is for one application and not for the whole season.
For more information, visit Bristol County Mosquito Control Project | Mass.gov