Tips for Marylanders to prevent tickborne diseases

Anna Chen
·1 min read

MARYLAND (DC News Now) — The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is urging Marylanders to protect themselves from tickborne diseases.

May is nationally recognized as Tickborne Disease Awareness Month, and in an effort to reduce the spread of the disease, MDH has tips to do just that.

Virginia Department of Health: Tick season is approaching

To prevent tick exposures and bites:

  • Use EPA-approved insect repellents such as DEET, picaridin or IR3535

  • Wear light colored clothing to help spot ticks more easily

  • Wear long pants and sleeves and tuck your pants into your socks or boots

  • Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin

  • Consider purchasing permethrin treated clothing and gear

  • Stick to marked paths when hiking and avoid brushy areas and tall grass

  • Shower as soon as possible after returning indoors

  • Dry your clothes on high heat for 10 minutes once you get home to kill any ticks on clothing

  • Perform a tick check on yourself, children, and pets after being outside in a tick habitat

  • Talk to your veterinarian about ways to protect your pets

MDH says Lyme disease is the most prevalent tickborne disease seen in the state but ticks can transmit a number of other diseases such as babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.

Marylanders are encouraged to check for ticks after coming inside from outdoor activities until the fall.

For more information, click here.

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