Oyster Bay's Annual Warning: It's Tick Season

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto issued his annual advisory to residents last week, urging them to understand Lyme disease and take precautions when venturing outdoors.

“Lyme Disease is a potentially serious infection that can produce skin, arthritic, cardiac and neurological symptoms,” Venditto said. “It is carried by the deer tick, which becomes active once the temperature rises above 40 degrees. Don’t let the name of the tick mislead you, though, because the deer tick is found even in areas where there are not deer. From March untll November, residents should be wary of deer ticks.”

Early detection is key because Lyme responds well to treatment in its initial stages. If you suspect you have been bitten by a deer tick, or show symptoms, contact your doctor. Perhaps the most well known symptom of Lyme is a circular, reddish rash at the site of the bite. Not everyone who is bitten develops the rash, though so it is important to be aware of other symptoms. They include fever, headache, malaise, stiff neck, and muscle or joint pain.

Venditto office outlined some precautions:

Wear light-colored clothing because it makes it easier to spot ticks

Long-sleeve shirts tucked into pants and pants tucked into boots or socks are the most practical outfit for venturing into the woods.

Use an insect repellant specifically for ticks.

Keep long hair pulled back.

When gardening, pruning shrubs or otherwise handling soil or vegetation, wear light-colored gloves and spot-check them for ticks.

The Supervisor added that pets should be checked regularly for ticks. Outdoor cats, as well as dogs that run loose, can carry ticks into the house and transmit them to humans. Tick collars or powders can make your pet a less attractive vehicle for ticks.

“Not all ticks are infected,” he said. “Also, studies have shown that, in most cases, infected ticks must be attached for 36 hours or more before the bacteria are transmitted, so, your chance of contracting Lyme disease is significantly reduced if you remove a tick within the first 36 hours.”

The proper way to remove a tick is to grasp the tick at the point of attachment, with a pair of pointed precision tweezers with smooth tips. Pull firmly and steadily outward. Do not twist the tick out or apply an irritant to the tick in an attempt to get it to back out. Do not kill the tick when you remove it. Place it in a sealed container and label it with your name, address, the date and part of your body where you were bitten. Cover the wound with disinfectant, wash your hands and disinfect the tweezers. Call your doctor to determine whether or not immediate treatment is warranted. Be mindful of the presence of signs or symptoms of a tick-borne illness.

Further information about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses can be found at: New York State Department of Health (www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/lyme/); National Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (www.cdc.gov/lyme/); Lyme Disease.Org. (www.lymedisease.org); American Lyme Disease Foundation (www.aldf.com/); and the Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (1-888-366-6611 or www.lymediseaseassociation.org/).