Residents Warned To Protect Selves
A city health official told the Queens Borough Cabinet last Tuesday, May 15, that May is probably the month when there is the highest risk of getting bitten by a tick.
“What we see the most in New York City from ticks is Lyme Disease.” said Dr. Edgar Butts, senior science advisor for the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH).
Although there were only a reported
11 cases of Lyme Disease in New York City in 2011, Butts told Borough President Helen Marshall and the borough’s community board district managers at Queens Borough Hall that, “We’re in peak season right now,” for tick bites that could result in Lyme disease.
“Be careful,” advised Dr. Butts, especially when walking in parks, on trails, when gardening, and especially when in grass.
“Don’t wear flip-flops,” and use rubber bands or tuck long pants into socks, he added. He also stressed the importance of checking children and house pets for ticks after being outdoors.
Other precautions against getting tick-borne diseases include drying clothes worn outdoors at the highest setting for one hour after washing. “Washing clothes alone will not kill ticks,” advised Butts.
Anyone bitten by a tick should remove it as quickly as possible, using pointy tweezers or forceps to grasp the insect as close to the person’s skin surface-and as close to the tick’s head-as possible.
Butts warned against grabbing the tick at its fattened body, which could lead to injecting bacteria from the tick into the person’s body.
After the tick is removed, the bitten area should be disinfected with rubbing alcohol, a skin disinfectant or a topical antibiotic. The tick should be saved in 70-80 percent alcohol for possible later testing and a note should be made of the geographical site and date of the bite for possible followup.
A physician should be consulted if there is evidence of a rash, disease and/or infection. Butts told Marshall and cabinet members that not all ticks are infected and prompt removal of a tick will lower the chance of infection.
