Ticks don’t simply go away within the winter.
Ticks might be lively anytime the temperature is above freezing, and analysis exhibits that tick-borne illnesses are on the rise in folks and canines.
According to the CDC, reported circumstances in folks within the U.S. elevated from about 12,000 yearly in 1995 to roughly 35,000 in 2019.
Since not all identified circumstances are reported, the CDC believes the true variety of human infections is nearer to 476,000 per 12 months.
Luckily, there are methods you possibly can shield your self and your pets from tick bites and tick-borne illnesses.
Types of ticks generally present in Michigan
There are greater than 20 identified tick species in Michigan. The ticks listed beneath are the 5 commonest ticks folks report seeing in Michigan.
Most of them survive by feeding on wild animals, however a number of species are identified to chunk people and pets. Ticks can carry harmful micro organism, viruses or parasites. Tick-related illnesses, resembling Lyme illness, are present in Michigan.
American canine tick (wooden tick)
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Where is it discovered: Widespread all through Michigan in wooded and grassy areas.
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Description: Large, brown ticks with ornate white markings.
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Diseases they might carry: Rocky Mountain noticed fever and tularemia
Blacklegged tick (deer tick)
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Where is it discovered: Widespread all through Michigan in wooded and grassy areas.
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Description: Small tick with black legs. It has a spherical, black protect behind its head.
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Diseases they might carry: Lyme illness, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, deer tick virus and Ehrlichia muris-like illness
Lone star tick
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Where is it discovered: Rare in Michigan, however turning into extra frequent. Usually present in wooded areas.
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Description: The grownup feminine has a “lone star” marking.
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Diseases they might carry: Ehrlichiosis and tularemia
Woodchuck tick (groundhog tick)
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Where is it discovered: In the dens of untamed animals.
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Diseases they might carry: Powassan encephalitis
Brown canine tick (kennel tick)
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Where is it discovered: This tick is ready to breed and survive in indoor environments and in grassy brushy areas.
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Description: This tick is usually present in shelters, breeding services and canine kennels.
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Diseases they might carry: Rocky mountain noticed fever, canine babesiosis, canine ehrlichiosis
Click here to view extra details about figuring out ticks from the CDC. Click here to see extra information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The life cycle of a tick
Most ticks undergo 4 life levels: Egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph and grownup.
According to the CDC, ticks have to eat blood at each stage to outlive. Ticks can take as much as three years to finish their full life cycle. Some tick species, just like the brown canine tick, like to remain on the identical host for all life levels. Blacklegged ticks can feed off mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians however wants a brand new host at each stage of its life.
Below is graphic that exhibits the lifecycle of a blacklegged tick:
The picture beneath exhibits a nymphal blacklegged tick feeding over 96 hours:
At all levels of life ticks can chunk people, however nymphs and grownup females are those mostly discovered on people. Larvae are the smallest life stage of tick that develop from eggs. For reference, blacklegged tick nymphs are concerning the measurement of a poppy seed. Nymphal and larval ticks are so small they might be exhausting to determine.
How to stop tick bites
Ticks can develop into lively each time the temperature rises above freezing. Ticks reside in grassy, brushy or wooded areas — or on animals. Many folks get tick bites whereas in their very own yard or neighborhood, according to the CDC.
The CDC recommends utilizing EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. Click here to make use of the EPA’s software to search out the insect repellent greatest suited to your wants.
You ought to keep away from wooded and brushy areas, in case you can, and keep within the middle of trails whenever you’re mountain climbing. You may also tuck your pants into your socks and use pants which have an elastic waistband as that may be extra of a barrier for ticks. Light coloured clothes additionally makes recognizing ticks simpler
Check your clothes for ticks whenever you’re achieved spending time outside. You can tumble dry garments in a dryer on excessive warmth for 10 minutes to kill any ticks that could be hiding on dry clothes. If the garments should be washed first the CDC recommends utilizing sizzling water as chilly and medium temperature water won’t kill ticks.
Showering inside two hours of coming indoors can cut back your threat of getting Lyme illness. Showering could assist wash off unattached ticks, in response to the CDC.
Where to verify your self for ticks:
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In and across the ears
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In and across the hair
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Under the arms
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Inside the stomach button
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Around the waist
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Between the legs
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Back of the knees
Where to verify your pet for ticks:
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In and across the ears
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Around the tail
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Around the eyelids
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Under the collar
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Under the entrance legs
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Between the again legs
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Between the toes
What to do in case you discover a tick
If you’ll be able to you need to put the tick in a small, clear and sealable container in order that it may be recognized.
Michigan residents can have a tick recognized through photograph by emailing the photograph to MDHHS-Bugs@michigan.gov. If you’d prefer to mail a tick, more information is here.
The state of Michigan additionally has a portal monitoring information the state has on ticks throughout the state, click here to view that information.
How to securely take away a tick
You can use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removing key (you will discover these at most pet shops and out of doors shops) to take away the tick. You ought to grasp the tick as near the pores and skin as attainable.
If the tick’s mouthparts are nonetheless on the pores and skin and might’t be eliminated simply you need to depart the chunk web site alone to heal. Wash the chunk web site and your arms with cleaning soap and water after which use an antiseptic on the chunk web site.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial an infection and is likely one of the commonest vector-borne illnesses within the United States. It is mostly transmitted to people by way of the chunk of an contaminated blacklegged tick.
Symptoms embrace fever, headache, fatigue, and a pores and skin rash. If it goes untreated it will probably unfold to the joints, the guts and the nervous system.
Your healthcare supplier can diagnose Lyme illness based mostly in your signs, bodily findings and the potential of publicity to contaminated ticks. Most circumstances might be handled with a couple of weeks of antibiotics.
Dogs may also get Lyme illness. Symptoms in canines embrace swollen joints and lameness, fever, and lack of urge for food. Dogs with Lyme illness often develop severe kidney illness that may be deadly.
Red meat allergy (Alpha-gal Syndrome)
Alpha-gal Syndrome is a severe, doubtlessly life-threatening allergic response. It can happen after folks eat crimson meat or are uncovered to different merchandise containing alpha-gal. According to the CDC there may be some proof that the molecule that causes a crimson meat allergy might be discovered within the saliva of sure forms of ticks.
Symptoms embrace a rash, hives, nausea or vomiting, problem respiration, drop in blood strain, dizziness or faintness, extreme abdomen ache. Symptoms normally happen between 3 to six hours after consuming meat or merchandise containing alpha-gal.
The CDC mentioned there may be “rising proof” to recommend that AGS could also be triggered by the chunk of a lone star tick or blacklegged tick. They pressured that extra analysis is required to know the function ticks play in triggering the response.
Read: Tick bites can trigger rare issue that makes people allergic to red meat, health experts say
Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis is brought on by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. It is unfold to folks by tick bites, primarily from the blacklegged tick.
People with anaplasmosis will typically have fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. Doxycycline is the drug of alternative for adults and youngsters of all ages with anaplasmosis, according to the CDC.
Reported circumstances of anaplasmosis in Michigan residents jumped from 17 confirmed and possible circumstances in 2020 to 56 in 2021. Counties with the biggest improve in anaplasmosis circumstances embrace Dickinson and Menominee within the Upper Peninsula and Manistee and Benzie within the Lower Peninsula.
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