Ticks & Tickborne Disease Prevention

• Lyme Disease – The most common tickborne illness. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, joint pain, and a bull’s-eye rash.
• Anaplasmosis – Causes fever, chills, muscle aches, and sometimes severe illness.
• Babesiosis – A parasite infection that can cause flu-like symptoms and sometimes serious complications.
• Powassan Virus (rare) – Can cause severe neurological illness.

• Avoid Tick Habitats: Stay on clear trails; avoid tall grass, brush, and wooded areas.
• Dress Smart: Wear long sleeves, pants tucked into socks, and light-colored clothing to spot ticks more easily.
• Use Repellent: Apply EPA-approved repellents with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Check for Ticks: After spending time outdoors, check your whole body carefully (including scalp, behind ears, and underarms). Don’t forget to check children and pets.
• Shower After Outdoors: Showering within 2 hours may help wash off ticks that aren’t attached yet.
• Protect Pets: Use tick-prevention products recommended by your veterinarian.

Tick Testing Information

The Great Meadows Public Health Collaborative has established a tick-testing subsidy program utilizing state grant funding. The program aims to help all residents residing in the GMPHC Region learn what disease-causing microbes a discovered tick may be carrying, including the pathogens in Deer ticks that cause Lyme disease. Residents can order a Tick Report with a $30 subsidy, bringing the cost to $20 instead of $50.  

Visit www.TickReport.com for more information.