New York, NY (PRWEB) October 31, 2013
With fall season in full swing, so are some of our favorite outdoor activities, from raking leaves to taking hikes. Enjoying the great outdoors with peace of mind can make a difference. The Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDA) today released tick prevention tips from Lyme and tick-borne disease prevention expert, Bob Oley.
According to new findings from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Lyme disease is a “tremendous” public health problem, infecting 300,000 people every year, 10 times more than previously reported. If a tick bite is left untreated, the infection can move quickly to the brain and can result in a high fever (flu-like symptoms), severe joint pain, and neurological problems that are often misdiagnosed due to inadequate testing and research. In fact, more than 50 percent of those with the disease receive a false-negative result from laboratory tests.
“Ticks are not just warm weather pests anymore. They are now a yearly phenomenon,” according to Oley. “Ticks need two elements to survive: a high humidity environment and a host to feed on. Consequently, you are likely to find ticks in great abundance in the woods, in leaf litter and in garden areas. This time of year - as the leaves fall off the trees - you are most likely to encounter adult deer ticks waiting patiently for you to walk by while hoping to get its next meal.”
Oley’s prevention tips are intended to ensure public health and enjoyment of the great outdoors this fall season:
- Wear clothing that is treated with permethrin. This is one of the easiest things to do to protect yourself. Don’t forget to also spray your shoes, backpacks and other outdoor accessories.
- Apply a tick repellent on your exposed skin. You can buy insect repellents with chemicals such as IR3535, Picaridin, and DEET, or if you prefer using organics, try essential oils like lemon eucalyptus oil or cedar oil.
- Keep outdoor clothing outside your home. All other clothes should be put in the dryer on high heat for 20 to 30 minutes. The heat will effectively kill any ticks.
- Conduct full body tick checks of family members who go outside, both when they return indoors, as well as at night before they go to bed. Be sure to check some of the areas where you’re more likely to find ticks: between your toes, behind your knees, in the navel, on your back, and behind your ears.
To learn more about Lyme and other Tick-borne diseases along with additional prevention tips, please visit Bob Oley’s Tick Talk on the TBDA website at http://www.tbdalliance.org/getinformed/tick-talk; Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TBDAlliance; and Twitter at @TBDAlliance.
About the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance
The Tick-Borne Disease Alliance is dedicated to raising awareness, promoting advocacy and supporting initiatives to find a cure for tick-borne diseases, including Lyme. As part of its efforts, TBDA is embarking on a quest to develop a reliable diagnostic tool as a first step toward eradicating the diseases. Working with others in the tick-borne disease community nationwide, TBDA seeks to raise public awareness through education and create a unified voice for advocacy regarding the current epidemic in order to make a real difference. More information about TBDA, Lyme and tick-borne diseases, and prevention and protection can be found at http://www.tbdalliance.org.
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Andrea B. Werbel, 212-372-7630, awerbel(at)parasolmarketing(dot)com
Lindsay Walus, 212-372-7631, lwalus(at)parasolmarketing(dot)com