Mosquito & Tick Bite Prevention

Mosquito & Tick Bite Prevention

As the temperatures rise and outdoor activities pick up, it is important to be mindful of ticks and mosquitoes. Both carry diseases that can be passed on to people. To avoid illnesses spread by ticks and mosquitoes, follow the prevention tips listed below.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitos can pick up diseases by feeding on an infected animal and then may spread the disease to a person through their bite. These diseases include Eastern Equine Encephalitis, La Cross Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis, and West Nile Virus. Most people will not experience any symptoms, but some notice they have a mild fever, headaches, and muscle aches that may last up to a week. For more information, visit the mosquito control page on our website. 

Protect

To avoid mosquito bites and mosquito borne illnesses, it is smart to follow these prevention tips:

• Apply EPA registered insect repellents on clothing and exposed skin
• Wear light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• Avoid being outdoors at peak mosquito biting hours (dawn & dusk)
• Prevent mosquitoes from breeding around your home
  • Empty standing water from buckets, flowerpots, bird baths, wheelbarrows, etc.
  • Dispose of tires properly. Drill holes in tire swings to allow water to drain out
  • Unclog roof gutters to ensure proper drainage
  • Keep wading pools empty and tipped on their side when not in use
  • Install screens on windows and doors
• Check for travel notices when visiting other countries for mosquito-borne and other disease transmission updates

Request mosquito treatment and report breeding areas by calling 740-454-9741 X 300.

Ticks

The most common ticks found in Ohio are the Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick), American Dog Tick, and the Lone Star Tick. The Blacklegged Tick is responsible for transmitting Lyme Disease. Last year, Muskingum County saw a rise in Lyme Disease with a reported total of 213 cases. Lyme Disease is a threat to both the health of people and pets. These ticks may also spread the disease Anaplasmosis. The Lone Star Tick is capable of transmitting Ehrlichiosis. Lone Star Ticks also can transmit an allergy antibody, known as Alpha-Gal, which may lead to the development of an allergy to red meat for some people. The American Dog Tick may transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The longer a tick feeds, the greater the chance it could pass diseases.

The Asian Longhorned Tick has also been recently found in Ohio. These ticks are invasive and may quickly infest livestock that causes a decrease in production, growth, and in some instances, death. These ticks are parthenogenetic, meaning an individual tick can clone itself instead of mating to reproduce, which contributes to the serious threat these ticks pose for both animals and people as they can rapidly multiply.

Blacklegged Tick Lone Star Tick American Dog Tick Asian Longhorned Tick

Tick identification is available at the Health Department in Environmental Health. Please bring the tick in a sealed bag or container. The Health Department does not send ticks for laboratory testing.

Due to the increase in ticks and tick-borne illness, the Ohio Department of Health is pushing for an increase in surveillance and awareness in communities. Tick drags will be taking place throughout the year at public parks to develop an understanding of the tick populations in our county.

Protect

Tickborne diseases, especially Lyme Disease, are on the rise nationwide and in Ohio. It is important to take precautions when being outdoors to avoid tickborne illnesses. Follow the prevention tips included below:

• Treat clothing and exposed skin with EPA registered insect repellant
• Wear light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants to keep ticks on the outside of clothing
• Avoid wooded, brushy, and high grass areas where ticks are commonly found
• Shower as soon as possible after being outdoors
• Perform tick checks on all parts of your body and on your children
• Check gear and pets for ticks before putting them in your vehicle
• Tumble clothing in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks
• Clear tall grasses and brush around your home to decrease tick habitats
• Create a 3-foot-wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between wooded areas and your lawn to restrict tick migration
• Consult a veterinarian to treat your pets for ticks

If you do find an attached tick, it is important to properly remove the tick to decrease the risk of disease transmission. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as closely to the bite area as possible. Pull straight up, without twisting or jerking, to remove all mouth parts of the tick. Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol, in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flush it down the toilet. Wash your hands and the bite with soap and water. Monitor for symptoms of tickborne disease, such as: fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, fatigue, or rash. Symptoms may take up to a few weeks to show.