03/29/2024
As tick season ramps up, experts offer
tips on how to prevent tickborne illness
Tick sightings and bites dramatically increase during the spring months and into summer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nationally there has been a sharp incline in the number of emergency department visits for tick bites over the past month. The uptick in cases comes as public health recognizes National Tick Bite Prevention Week. During this time, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) is reminding people to protect themselves from tickborne illnesses by preventing bites and asking residents to share ticks with LMPHW to enhance its surveillance program.
Ticks are small parasites that feed on the blood of mammals, birds and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. They are commonly found in wooded, brushy and grassy areas. However, people can be exposed to a tick in their own yard. Exposure to ticks can happen all year round, but they tend to be more active during warmer months. They can spread diseases to both pets and people. Diseases they carry include Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease.
Most common tickborne diseases found in Kentucky are:
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Ehrlichiosis
Here are the T-I-C-K rules of thumb:
• Take precautions and wear insect repellent.
• Inspect your body for ticks and rashes after being outdoors.
• Carefully remove the head and body of the tick.
• Keep monitoring your health for fever, body aches and rashes and seek medical attention if they develop.
Spot a Tick and Share Program
In 2022, LMPHW launched its Spot a Tick and Share Program. If people are bitten by a tick or discover one, they are asked to share it with the department so environmental health specialists can further identify what types of ticks are in the Metro area and what diseases they may be carrying.
To date, more than 300 ticks have been speciated and tested for disease through the program. Of those samples, nearly 70 have been brought in by Louisville Metro residents and the rest collected by LMPHW.
Early results show the most common ticks found in the Metro area are:
• Lone Star tick – 85% of collected ticks
• American Dog tick – 12% of collected ticks
Since the start of the program, three ticks have tested positive for disease, one with ehrlichiosis and two with Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
To submit a tick, follow these steps:
1. Place the tick in an airtight container, not a plastic bag.
2. Cover the tick in rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
3. Label the container with your name and contact information.
4. Complete and attach this form that you can also find on louisvilleky.gov.
5. Drop off the sample at Public Health and Wellness headquarters at 400 E. Gray St. Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
For more information about ticks, prevention tips and proper removal, visit LMPHW’s webpage.
