Lyme Disease Awareness for Families

Fairfax County, VA, May 30, 2015

Joshua SmithFairfax County Health Department

Outline

• Ticks in Fairfax County• Tickborne Disease Prevention

Tick Life Cycle• 4 Stages

• Egg• Larva• Nymph• Adult

• Female, Male

CDC/Christopher Paddock

Tick Species in Fairfax County

Image credit: CDC

The Waiting Game• Ticks do not fly, jump, or fall from

trees• Crawl on grass or other low

vegetation• Wait for animal to pass by• Wait in leaf litter• Use carbon dioxide and scents to

find host animals

Lyme Disease Transmission Ecology

Personal Protection

Personal Protection• Avoidance• Repellent• Dressing properly • Permethrin for clothing• Shower• Tick check• Prompt removal of

attached ticks

Avoid Tick Habitats

How do I avoid them?• Stick to the middles of

trails.• Avoid tall grass and brush.

Where are they?– Leaf litter and low lying

vegetation.– Forests and woodlands

where host animals are present.

Repellents*Repels

mosquitoesRepels ticks

Hours of protection

(25%)Use on

children**

DEET Yes Yes 5 Over 2 months

Picaridin Yes Maybe 5 --

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus

Yes Maybe 4 Over 3 years

IR 3535 Yes Maybe 3 --

*Always read and follow label instructions.**Do not allow children to apply repellent to themselves.

Dress to Protect

Wear long, loose and light colored clothing.

Tuck your pant legs into your socks and your shirt into your pants.

Tie back long hair or wear a hat.

Treat clothes with permethrin.

Permethrin for Clothing• Permethrin is the active

ingredient• Insecticide that can be

applied to your clothing, NOT your skin

• Pre-treated clothing or DIY• Always read and follow label

instructions.

Perform Regular Tick Checks• During, immediately

after and several hours after spending time outside

• Check whole body • Use a friend or mirror to

check hard to see areas

I found a tick attached to me… now what?

1. Don’t panic2. Remove it3. Save the tick for

identification 4. See a physician if

you experience symptoms.

How to Remove a Tick• Use fine-tipped tweezers• Grasp the tick as close as possible to the skin surface

and pull upward with steady, even pressure• After removing the tick, disinfect the site and wash

your hands• Save the tick for identification

Image credit: CDC

Why get a tick ID’d?• Several species of ticks in

our area• Not all small ticks are deer

ticks• Only deer ticks transmit

Lyme disease bacteria• Other tick-borne diseases

• We do not test ticks for diagnostic purposes or provide medical advice

Free Tick Identification ServiceInstructions• Carefully remove attached tick• Place tick in sealable plastic bag• Label with your name, address, and phone number• Bring tick to FCHD Kelly Square Building (10777 Main St,

Fairfax, VA)• We will identify species, often while you wait

Make Your Yard a Tick Free Zone

• Create a sunny, dry area

• Remove leaf litter & tall grass

• Lay down wood chips and gravel

• Keep playground equipment and decks away from yard edge and trees.

• Use fences

• Apply insecticide

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Preventing Ticks Around the Home

• Chemical control–Broad-spectrum pesticides

• Non-target effects

–No tick-specific treatments–Careful, judicious use–Read and follow label!

Thank you