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NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH For Immediate Release: For More Information, Contact:
State Health Department Urges Caution During Tick Season BISMARCK, N.D. –This tick season, the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) encourages residents to take measures to avoid tick bites and the potential for serious tick-borne diseases. The NDDoH offers the following tips for making it difficult for ticks to make contact with your skin:
“After leaving a tick-infested area, it’s important to remove and wash all clothing as soon as possible,” Dr. Cope said. “Also, carefully check for ticks and use tweezers to remove any that have attached to your body.” According to Dr. Cope, the best way to remove a tick is to use tweezers to grasp it as close as possible to the head and gently pull upward until it is free. Avoid crushing the tick during removal. Make sure to wash your hands and the site of tick attachment with soap and water after removal. In the last five years, five cases of tularemia, three cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and 47 cases of Lyme disease were reported in North Dakota. The most common tick in North Dakota is the dog tick which is associated with the transmission of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. The deer tick, which can carry Lyme disease, has rarely been identified in the state, and most of the human cases of Lyme disease in North Dakota had a history of out-of-state travel. This spring and summer, the North Dakota Department of Health, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota are partnering to conduct a study to identify the different tick species in North Dakota, including assessing whether the deer tick is present in the state. Some of the collected ticks also will be tested to see if they were carrying diseases. Symptoms of tularemia usually begin with a painless ulcer at the site of the tick bite and may include swollen glands. If the bacteria enter the bloodstream, more severe infections, including pneumonia, can occur. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, a general feeling of illness, deep muscle pain, severe headaches, chills and irritated eyes. A rash begins on about the third day of illness, usually appearing first on the hands and feet and then spreading to the rest of the body. Symptoms of Lyme disease occur three to 32 days after infection. The first symptom is often a red rash near the tick bite, which develops in about 60 percent of patients. Other early symptoms include fatigue, fever, headache, stiff neck, sore muscles, swollen glands and painful joints. Without treatment, these symptoms may last several weeks or more. Arthritis, neurological or cardiac problems may develop weeks to months after the initial infection if the initial infection is not treated with antibiotics. People who have symptoms that may be associated with a tick-related illness should consult their doctor. For more information, call Dr. Jennifer Cope, North Dakota Department of Health, at 701.328.2378. -- 30 -- To access archived news releases and other information, visit the North Dakota Department of Health Press Room at www.nddohpressroom.gov. |
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