Latest news with #TickSpotters
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How to protect yourself during peak tick season
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — It's officially peak tick season in Rhode Island, which means everyone should remain vigilant while spending time outside. Thomas Mather, director of the University of Rhode Island's Center for Vector-Borne Disease and the TickEncounter Resource Center, told 12 News the population of ticks across New England is the highest and most diverse it's ever been. There are four different species of ticks currently in Rhode Island, according to Mather, including black-legged deer ticks, American dog ticks, Lone Star ticks and Asian longhorned ticks. He said the most popular species are black-legged deer ticks and American dog ticks. Mather offered a series of precautions everyone can take as tick season ramps up: Mather has a new mantra for tick prevention: 'tuck, treat, tight.' He said it's important to tuck clothes in, treat clothes and shoes to repel them, and wear tight clothing to prevent them from getting underneath. Specifically, Mather recommends everyone tuck their shirts into their pants and their pants into their socks to limit skin exposure. He also suggested spraying clothing with a repellant that contains 20-30% DEET or permethrin. Those hiking in the woods or tall grass should stick to the middle of the trail if possible, he added. Mather urged everyone to carefully check themselves, their children and their pets for ticks before heading inside. He said it's important to have tweezers and a resealable bag ready to remove and collect the tick. Mather also warned against attempting to squish ticks, especially while they're still attached to their host. Even though it can be tempting to flush the tick away after removing it, Mather is asking everyone to submit a photograph of it to URI's TickSpotters. Mather said knowing the species of tick can make a big difference, since only black-legged deer ticks can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. To submit a tick for identification, Mather requests the photograph be taken of the topside of the tick and provide as much information as possible about the encounter. 'We don't expect everyone to be a tick biologist,' Mather said. 'But that's why we're here.' Mather said TickSpotters will identify the tick and respond to the submission with a risk assessment and easy-to-follow tick bite prevention tips. Even though the diseases that ticks carry varies by species, Mather stressed that 'all ticks need to be protected against.' There's also an easy way for Rhode Islanders to evaluate tick risks before heading outside, according to Mather. He said everyone can simply look out the window and assess their yard conditions to determine whether ticks will be out and about. 'Ticks don't like dry weather,' he said. 'If you have to water your lawn … that's actually not good for ticks.' Mather said wet weather provides the climate ticks need to reproduce. That's actually why clothes should be thrown into the dryer instead of the washer after spending time outside. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Tick Bites Are No Joke. Here's How to Prevent Them and Protect Yourself.
A hotly debated topic among experts is whether you should get the tick tested by a lab to see which diseases it carries. Some experts, including those at the CDC, do not recommend tick testing. A highly sensitive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test is performed on the tick. If the PCR test detects a small amount of bacteria sufficient to trigger a positive result, it doesn't mean the tick was feeding long or had enough bacteria to infect you. Such a result could cause undue worry. 'There is a pretty high chance of a false positive and no real oversight in the labs,' Kaitlin McDonald, a PhD student in the Ecology, Evolution, Environment, and Society program in the Department of Biological Sciences at Dartmouth College, said in an email interview. Only about a quarter of nymphal-stage ticks (the ones most likely to transmit Lyme disease) are infected, and they need to feed for 48 hours or longer to transmit the infection. Most people who recognize a tick bite remove it in less than 48 hours. But other experts say that identifying and testing ticks is beneficial. The TickSpotters program, led by Mather, can help determine the type of tick and give you a risk assessment, if you send in a clear picture. 'If the tick is a risky tick, attached long enough to transmit any germ they might be carrying, then we suggest that people might want to have the tick tested ... and to have more information to pass along to their primary care or veterinary care provider,' Mather said. Knowing which diseases your tick was carrying will help you zero in on medical care before symptoms start. Up to 5% of nymphal ticks carry a co-infection, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and some of the symptoms are similar. Anaplasmosis, for example, is an emerging and dangerous infection spread by black-legged and western black-legged ticks, and it has symptoms similar to those of Lyme disease. Doxycycline is effective against many tick-borne illnesses, but you may need to go on a different antibiotic if you have the parasite babesia or the rare but increasing Powassan virus. If you do opt to get a tick tested, Mather recommends several companies that perform the service for less than $100, including Ticknology, TickCheck, TickReport, and Eco Laboratory (the latter two are 'prevention partners' with Mather's free TickSpotters program). Your state's health department may also have a tick-testing lab. For instance, Connecticut, where Lyme disease was first identified, has a free program for its residents. Sample test results from the Colorado-based tick-testing company Ticknology. As the co-authors of this story, we have both experienced the exhaustion of Lyme disease, plus the no-picnic treatment of the three- to four-week doxycycline antibiotic cycle (which comes with a host of potential side effects). We think that testing can be good for peace of mind and can promote vigilance in watching for symptoms and getting early treatment. A few years ago, Annemarie's husband was bitten by a tick shortly after she was diagnosed with Lyme. When the tick came back from the lab negative for the tested diseases, no further action was necessary. There was no worrying or watching for symptoms to appear. What a huge relief! If you experience symptoms such as fever, aches and pains, or a rash, see your doctor, and ask for full-panel bloodwork (not just for Lyme disease) to help identify co-infections. We know this discussion ranks among the worst of the creepy-crawly topics, but common tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme disease, are treatable if they're caught early. Get outside. Enjoy your summer. This article was edited by Megan Beauchamp and Harry Sawyers. Permethrin is like the wall around the castle: It's always there offering protection and doesn't need much maintenance. Our repellent recommendations are EPA approved, backed by experts, and tested by us. Here's the best gear for killing flies and other common household pests. Treating your pets for pests isn't cheap or convenient, but it's necessary.
