Staying Safe from Ticks

It's almost tick time. If you're at all worried about mosquitoes transmitting dangerous and exotic viruses, then you should probably at least think about ticks. (SHNS photo by Mike Burridge / University of Florida)

They're tiny, but not in a cute puppy way. They're tiny in a bite-you, drink-your-blood and possibly-give-you-a-disease kind of way.

It's tick time. If you're at all worried about mosquitoes transmitting dangerous and exotic viruses, then you should probably at least think about ticks.

In North Carolina, ticks are responsible for far more cases of disease than mosquitoes. Last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked 147 cases of Lyme disease and 322 cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the state, said Barry Engber, a medical entomologist at the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. By comparison, only 24 cases of West Nile virus were reported in North Carolina.

The numbers shouldn't cause a panic. Only a small fraction--1 percent or 2 percent--of the ticks out there actually carry disease-causing bacteria, Engber said. But there are lots of the little creatures, and lots and lots of bites waiting to happen. So as the weather warms and the ticks become more active, it makes sense to take a few precautions.

When they're hungry, ticks plop down on vegetation and wait for someone or something to pass. They latch onto their meal and find a good spot.

The two main ticks that feed on humans in the state have their preferences. The American dog tick climbs toward the head. The lone star tick finds a place below the waist. Once they've picked out a spot, they dig in and drink.

"The longer a tick has to be attached and feed, the more feasible it becomes for it to transmit disease," Engber said.

If a tick has latched on, use tweezers, grab it as close to the skin as possible and pull it straight out. Don't twist it off as this increases the chances of breaking off the mouth parts, which will then have to be dug out like a splinter.

But it's best to avoid letting them feed in the first place, Engber said.

Ticks live all over but are more of a threat in dense woods or vegetation. Stay on beaten paths if possible, but if you have to go into dense areas, tuck in your shirt and tuck your pants into your boots.

If you must get into the thick of things hunting, working or hiking, spray repellent on your clothes. Engber said DEET-based repellents, which work well on mosquitoes, are unimpressive on ticks. Repellents containing permethrin should be sprayed on clothing, he said.