The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reported Lyme Disease as the most commonly reported vector borne (infectious microbe) illness in the U.S. and the 5th most common Nationally Notifiable disease – Our own state of NJ had the 3rd highest confirmed cases of Lyme Disease in 2019.
Doesn’t knowing that fact alone make protecting yourself and your loved ones more important than ever?
Powassan Possibilities
That’s a rare, but upcoming tick-borne virus that is unfortunately fatal in 10% of cases.
In fact, two cases of the virus “Powassan” were found in Sussex County, NJ, in 2019.
Symptoms include fevers, headaches and a rash – some of the same symptoms as Lyme Disease.
Powassan is transmitted more quickly than Lyme Disease – a tick will need to feed for at least 48 hours before it can infect a human, unlike Powassan where it can be transmitted within hours!
Be vigilant with tick prevention
If we’re going to be careful, we must know what we need to be careful about.
With ticks, you need to know how they’re getting onto your property. We’ve been told Lyme Disease & deer go hand-in-hand. But mice actually carry/host more ticks than deer do. Even the common meadow mole and some birds play a role too.
So, wouldn’t it make sense to concentrate on the hosts? What if you could treat them, much like we treat pets (dogs & cats), using treatments harmless to them, but quite effective on ticks?
We’re barraged with ads for tick control based on spraying. But should you use a ‘perimeter defense’ approach with this kind of pest, or power spray everything? Unless you know what to target, it won’t get to the source, and therefore it won’t work.
And, what about things you can do all on your own to stay protected?
We got you covered on tick prevention
Here are a few things you can do to help make your property a ‘tick-free zone’…
• Mow your lawn regularly (since ticks like to hide in tall grass)
• Rake & remove, grass clippings & leaves
• Keep the ground cover trimmed along your walkways, around your patio, deck(s), etc.
• Build stone walls and wood piles as far away from your home as possible (since rodents live
in these areas and they can host ticks)
• Locate kids’s play areas and equipment in sunny areas away from woods & brush
(ticks aren’t big fans of sunlight)
• Consider fencing to keep the deer away from your property (deer can host ticks)
• Keep your outdoor pet areas clear of leaves and other debris (dogs can also host ticks,
and as such, can carry them indoors)
• Keep your lawn & patio furniture away from woods, shrubs, and undergrowth.
• When in wooded areas, walk in the middle of trails and avoid sitting on logs or leaning
against trees
• Wear a hat outdoors (and if you have longer hair, if possible tuck it in under the hat)
• When weather permits, wear snug-at-the-wrist long-sleeved shirts, and long pants tucked into the tops of your high top socks
• Don’t wear sandals, open-toed shoes, or go bare foot in areas more prone to tick infestation
• Use insect repellents containing 20-30% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), and follow the manufacturer’s recommended application and reapplication directions
• Wear light colored clothing (it’s easier to see ticks that have dropped onto you)
• Check for ticks daily – the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends checking under your arms, in and around your ears, inside your belly button, behind your knees, between your legs, around your waist, and most importantly in your hair and around your hair line
• After being outside, check your gear and clothing before going into your home, then to be safe, run your clothes through a high heat cycle in your dryer
Do your due diligence
Remember, there are many ways to prevent ticks from getting onto you and your property…doing nothing, isn’t one of them! Follow the above tick prevention tips to keep you and your property protected.
And, if you’re REALLY serious about staying protected, call your local and licensed pest control company about a tick reduction program. You might even be able to find a company who offers a program for multiple outdoor pests – getting you the best bang for your buck!
TermiGuard Services & Fenwick offers an outdoor pest control program for mosquito, tick, and flea reduction so you can get back to enjoying time spent outdoors again!
Beat the bite! Contact us TODAY.
Until next time.
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