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STAMFORD, Conn. Spring has barely sprung in Stamford but summer is in the air, which means ticks are in the grass. And in the bushes. And in the woods.
The unusually warm and seemingly brief winter means that along with daffodils and lilacs, ticks are making an early appearance this year.
The thought that a colder weather would limit the amount of ticks is false, but the more people who are outside the more likely there will be tick bites, said Dr. Michael Parry, director of infectious disease for Stamford Hospital.
It certainly makes contact chances go up, Parry said of the warm weather, adding that he has been working in his garden since the middle of March.
There are more cases of Lyme disease reported than any other vector-borne illness in the United States. Cases of tick-borne disease have been steadily rising here, tripling from 10,000 reported cases in 1992 to 30,000 in 2009, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And, the CDC says that in 2010, 94 percent of Lyme disease cases were reported from 12 states, including Connecticut and New York.
In fact, more than a dozen illnesses are transmitted by ticks in the United States. Far less common than Lyme disease but also carried by the diminutive deer tick, babesiosis is caused by an infection from the parasite babesia microti. It thrives in red blood cells and, for those with compromised immune systems, can be fatal.
Most cases of Lyme disease happen in the late spring and summer when young ticks are active, and people are spending more time outdoors. But as recent balmy days can attest, outdoor time is already upon us. The disease is most common in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and North Central states, which account for nearly 95 percent of reported cases.
To avoid Lyme disease Parry suggested regularly checking for ticks after being outdoors, and covering as much skin as possible, while remaining comfortable. I dont want people to go out and have a heat stroke because theyre afraid of a tick bite.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the following suggestions:
Know where you'll find ticks, which live in moist and humid environments, in or near wooded or grassy areas. You can come into contact with them during outdoor activities around your home or when walking through vegetation such as leaf litter or shrubs. To avoid ticks, walk in the center of trails.
Use an insect repellent on skin or clothing with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamideor) and permethrin on clothing and gear. Products with permethrin, which remains protective through several washings, can be used to treat boots and clothing. Repellents containing 20 percent or more DEET can be applied to the skin and they can protect up to several hours. Parents should apply repellents to their children and should take care to avoid hands, eyes and mouth.
Check your body for ticks after being outdoors, even if only briefly and in your yard. When you've left a potentially tick-infested area, search your entire body for ticks. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body and remove any ticks.
Take special care to check these parts of your child's and your body for ticks:
Under the arms
In and around the ears.
Inside the belly button.
Back of the knees.
In and around all head and body hair.
Between the legs.
Around the waist.
Ticks can be carried into the house on clothing and pets so both should be examined carefully. Placing clothes into a dryer on high heat effectively kills ticks.
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