CHICAGO – With weather warming up, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging the public to get educated about how to protect themselves from ticks and Lyme disease – an infection that sickens an estimated 500,000 people each year in the United States - at the start of National Lyme Disease Awareness Month.
“Lyme disease is an infection that individuals can get from the bite of infected ticks – and it is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States with more than 500,000 people diagnosed and treated each year,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “With tick season beginning here in Illinois, I encourage our residents to learn how you can Fight the Bite and protect yourself and your loved ones from tickborne illnesses. If you do find yourself with Lyme disease symptoms – fever, fatigue, headache, and a circular rash – see your health care provider immediately to prevent serious illness.”
IDPH has created a fact sheet and Tick Defense Knowledge Check crossword puzzle that make it fun to learn about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from tickborne illnesses.
Director Vohra said the most important thing people can do to “Fight the Bite” is to diligently check themselves, their pets, and children for ticks after spending time in areas where ticks live, such as in and near wooded areas, tall grass, and brush. Removing ticks within a 24-hour period reduces the risk of potential disease transmission.
In addition to Lyme disease, other serious tickborne diseases include Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, Ehrlichiosis, and Babesiosis. Some tickborne illnesses can be life threatening. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is particularly dangerous and may cause death as quickly as five days after symptom onset.
If you become ill with fever and/or rash after being in an area where ticks may have been, contact your health care provider immediately.
IDPH has teamed up with the with the Illinois Natural History Survey to create an interactive Tick Surveillance Map that documents the counties in Illinois where the different tick species have been confirmed as well as the diseases they may carry.
Following are additional tips for how to avoid tickborne illnesses and have a healthy time in the outdoors:
If you are a clinician, click HERE for more information about Lyme Disease and click HERE for more information about Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
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