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Lyme Disease Prevention
Fact Sheet for Parents
The State of New Jersey continues to have one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the country. The disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected deer (black legged) tick. Common habitats for the deer tick are leaf litter in wooded areas, grassy areas along wooded edges and low bushes and shrubs. Deer ticks are not commonly found on athletic fields, cut lawns or agricultural fields. The majority of Lyme disease cases are caused by tick bites acquired around the home. Children may be at particular risk because of the amount of time they spend playing outdoors and the failure to recognize a tick bite.
The State of New Jersey continues to have one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the country. The disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected deer (black legged) tick. Common habitats for the deer tick are leaf litter in wooded areas, grassy areas along wooded edges and low bushes and shrubs. Deer ticks are not commonly found on athletic fields, cut lawns or agricultural fields. The majority of Lyme disease cases are caused by tick bites acquired around the home. Children may be at particular risk because of the amount of time they spend playing outdoors and the failure to recognize a tick bite.
Safety Tips
To help reduce this risk of tick exposure, remind your family of these tick safety tips.
Before Going Out
While Outside
Check clothing, skin, and hair for ticks (take special note of your child’s navel, underarm, groin area and behind the ears). If a tick is found, remove it carefully with tweezers. If it was attached, note spot of attachment, mark calendar, and save tick in a jar for later identification. Should symptoms such as an expanding bullseye rash, flu-like symptoms or painful joints develop, contact your physician.
Additional Precautions
Don’t Forget: It generally takes at least 36 hours after attachment for a deer tick to infect its host with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. So remember to check ticks daily.
For more information, please contact:
To help reduce this risk of tick exposure, remind your family of these tick safety tips.
Before Going Out
- Tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks.
- Use a tick repellent as directed.
- Wear closed shoes/sneakers rather than open sandals.
- Wear light-colored, tightly woven clothing to make it easier to spot ticks.
While Outside
- Avoid low bushes and leafy brush.
- Periodically check clothing and skin for ticks and remove.
- Stay in the center of trails.
Check clothing, skin, and hair for ticks (take special note of your child’s navel, underarm, groin area and behind the ears). If a tick is found, remove it carefully with tweezers. If it was attached, note spot of attachment, mark calendar, and save tick in a jar for later identification. Should symptoms such as an expanding bullseye rash, flu-like symptoms or painful joints develop, contact your physician.
Additional Precautions
- Apply DEET sparingly on exposed skin; do not use under clothing.
- Avoid spraying in enclosed areas.
- Do not allow children to handle the product. When using on children, apply to your own hands first and then put it on the child.
- Do not use DEET near food.
- Do not use DEET on the hands of young children; avoid applying to areas around the eyes and mouth.
- Do not use DEET over cuts, wounds or irritated skin. Wash treated skin with soap and water after returning indoors; wash treated clothing.
- Using tweezers, grasp tick as close to skin as possible using tweezers.
- Pull gently with a steady, backward pressure. Be patient.
- Wash area with soap, water, and topical antiseptic.
Don’t Forget: It generally takes at least 36 hours after attachment for a deer tick to infect its host with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. So remember to check ticks daily.
For more information, please contact:
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Cape May County Department of Health
Division of Community Health Planning/Education
Phone: 609-465-1225 - The Governor’s Lyme Disease Advisory Council
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Contact Us
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Kevin Thomas
Public Health Coordinator
Email
Jeffrey Pierson
Commissioner Liaison
Email
Department of Health
6 Moore Road
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Phone:609-465-1187
Fax:609-465-3933
Hotline:609-463-6581
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