Tips for Marylanders to prevent tickborne diseases
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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