Lincoln, NE – As spring and summer are the primary seasons when ticks are encountered in Nebraska, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services urges all residents to be mindful of ticks and take steps to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their pets from diseases spread by ticks such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Alpha-Gal Syndrome, also known as the red meat allergy.
A great resource to help residents learn about tick species and diseases they can pass on is the Nebraska Tick Surveillance Map. This map is an interactive tool that documents the counties in Nebraska where various tick species have been found and what diseases each species can carry.
“The Nebraska Tick Surveillance Map is a vital resource for members of the public as well as healthcare providers in Nebraska,” said Dr. Sydney Stein, Nebraska State Epidemiologist. “Monitoring tick populations allows us to see where ticks are in our communities and recreational spaces, identify pathogens carried by ticks in Nebraska, and prevent the spread of tick-borne diseases, protecting the health and well-being of both humans and animals.”
How to prevent tick bites and avoid tickborne diseases while enjoying time outdoors:
- Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to find. Tuck long pants into socks and boots.
- Apply an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent containing 20% DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus according to label directions.
- Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing, and camping gear and remains protective through several washings.
- Walk in the center of trails. Avoid wooded, brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
- Conduct full-body tick checks (underarms, ears, belly button, behind knees, between legs, waist, hair, and scalp) every two to three hours. Immature ticks can be as small as a poppy seed, so make sure to look carefully. Learn about tick removal and symptom awareness at https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/communication-resources/tick-bite-bot-1.html
- Pets should also be checked for ticks after being outdoors. Be sure to consult your veterinarian about appropriate tick prevention products to help protect your pets.
- Shower within two hours after coming indoors. Put clothes worn outdoors in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes (or one hour for damp clothes) to remove ticks.
- If you become ill with fever and/or rash after being in an area where ticks may have been, contact your healthcare provider.
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