Missouri Becomes a Hotbed for Dangerous Ticks: What You Need to Know
Missouri has seen a significant increase in tick activity, making it a hotspot for tickborne diseases. Understanding the risks and how to protect yourself is crucial as these tiny pests can carry serious illnesses.
Rising Tick Threats in Missouri
Ticks in Missouri have become more prevalent, raising concerns about tickborne diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. The state’s diverse landscape, which includes wooded areas, tall grasses, and brush, provides an ideal habitat for ticks, especially the lone star tick, blacklegged tick, and American dog tick.
Common Tickborne Diseases
Ticks in Missouri are known carriers of various diseases:
- Lyme Disease: Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, it often presents with fever, headache, fatigue, and a distinctive skin rash called erythema migrans.
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF): This severe illness can cause fever, rash, and can be fatal if not treated promptly.
- Ehrlichiosis: Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches.
These diseases can cause long-term health issues if not diagnosed and treated early.
Prevention Tips
Preventing tick bites is the best defense against tickborne diseases. Here are some essential tips to reduce your risk:
- Avoid Tick Habitats: Stay clear of wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Stick to the center of trails when hiking.
- Use Tick Repellents: Apply insect repellent containing DEET on skin and permethrin on clothing. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
- Wear Protective Clothing: Wear long sleeves and pants. Tuck pants into socks to prevent ticks from reaching your skin.
- Perform Tick Checks: After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check your body, clothing, and pets for ticks. Pay special attention to underarms, in and around ears, inside the belly button, back of the knees, in and around hair, between legs, and around the waist.
- Shower Soon After Being Outdoors: Showering within two hours of coming indoors can help wash off unattached ticks and is a good opportunity to do a tick check.
Managing Your Yard
Creating a tick-safe zone in your yard can also reduce tick encounters:
- Remove leaf litter and clear tall grasses and brush.
- Place a 3-foot wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas.
- Keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees.
What to Do If Bitten
If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water. Watch for symptoms such as rash or fever and consult a healthcare provider if these develop.
