Alabama Senate Joint Resolution 85 proclaimed June 2024 as Tick-Borne Illness Awareness Month in Alabama. The resolution aims to educate Alabamians about tick prevention and the symptoms associated with many tick-borne diseases.
According to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), tick-borne illnesses have been on the rise both nationally and in Alabama. Several species of ticks in the state have been found to carry disease-causing bacteria.
Although the most well-known tick-borne disease is Lyme disease, Dr. Dee Jones, ADPH state public health veterinarian, said Alabamians should be informed about other common tick-borne diseases and illnesses.
“What gets a lot of national attention is Lyme disease, and we certainly have small amounts of Lyme disease, but a lot of people tend to overlook the other tick-borne diseases, which include the bacterial diseases Rickettsia, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis,” Jones said.
The ADPH website indicates that the most common tick-borne diseases in Alabama are:
· Spotted fever Rickettsiosis
· Lyme’s desease
· Ehrlichiosis
Anaplasmosis
The other rare tick-borne diseases of public health concern reported in Alabama include:
· tularemia
Babesiosis
· Powassan virus
· Alpha-gal syndrome
· Typhus fevers
Among the most common tick-borne illnesses and diseases, symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, and skin rashes. However, symptoms can vary from one disease to another.
Because many of the symptoms are similar to those of the common cold and flu, tick-borne illnesses are often misdiagnosed. That’s why it’s important to take extra care after removing a tick bite.
Another aspect of the resolution is to educate Alabamians about tick-borne diseases and their prevention.
“The backbone of preventing tick-borne illnesses is checking for ticks,” Jones said.
The best time to check for ticks is in the shower after being outdoors. Places to look for ticks on the body include under the arms, around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, in and around the hair, between the legs, and around the waist.
ADPH offers these tips to help Alabamians reduce their risk of contracting a tick-borne illness while outdoors:
- Avoid wooded and brushy areas where ticks tend to live:
- Walking in the center of trails.
- Use repellent containing at least 20% DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin
- Treat clothing with 0.5% permethrin.
- Find and remove ticks from body and clothing within 2 hours of coming indoors
You can find more information about ticks and their bites through the Center for Disease Control’s Tick Bite Bot. This is an interactive tool that can help people remove attached ticks and determine when to seek medical attention.
More information about tick bite care and prevention can be found on the ADPH website.
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