04/24/2026
Let’s talk TICKS, it’s that time of year again. There are more than a dozen different Ticks in Vermont!! The Black Legged Tick is responsible for over 99% of all cases of a tickborne diseases in Vermont. If a Ticknis not removed it can feast on their human host for several days. During this time the Tick sucks the blood from the human host and gets engorged with blood. This is when the diseases are usually spread to the human host. After the toxins full it will drop off and bringing the cycle again. The following tickborne disease diseases are in Vermont. The first and most obvious is Lyme disease. It’s the most commonly reported tickborne disease in Vermont. It’s caused by bacterium called borrelia burgdorferi that are typically spread by the bite of the black leg ticks. the second disease that is the most common reported in Vermont is called ANAPLASMOSIS This is also spread by the bite of the infected black legged ticks. The third most reported cases are of the virus POWASSAN. This disease are very rare in Vermont. It’s primarily spread by the black leg tick, but can also be transmitted by the woodchuck tick and the squirrel tick although these ticks rarely bite humans other tickborne diseases are EHRLICHIOSIS this is spread through the bite of an infected lone star tech these ticks have not yet been established in Vermont so cases are likely travel related. Did you know that over half of the black leg ticks collected in Vermont have tested positive for one or more tickborne diseases. you are more likely to be at risk for a tick bite in the spring and early summer when ticks are in the nymph stage and they’re actively looking for blood Meal. Thankfully, in Vermont, we have winter so as long as the temperatures are below freezing it’s really hard to get a tick bite so according to the Vermont Department of health people in the southern state of Vermont are more likely to have a tick borne disease, obviously every county in Vermont you’re likely to be bit and at risk, but if you’re living in the southern part of Vermont, you are at higher risk since ? orne disease cases in Vermont have grown five times larger from about 400 to 2000 cases in a year. This is due to an increase number of ticks and the diseases they can spread. So you may be asking yourself, Amy what can I do to prevent tickborne diseases. One and I think it’s the most obvious one but avoid wooded and brushy areas or high grass. Make sure you stay on the trail if there’s a trail. We are long pants and long sleeve shirt and make sure you wear a light colored clothing so you can easily spot a tick. Using tick repellent is a great idea and as always talk to your vet about preventative care for your animals there are several tick repellent that are registered with the EPA. So when you get home from your walk or your hike, make sure you check your skin your clothing, your pets children after spending time outdoors and remember ticks may be small like the size of a poppy seed. Make sure you shower within a few hours of being outside and put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes and that will kill any ticks and the areas of your body that you want to pay special attention to her, your scalp and neck, your ears, your back, you’re under arms, your belly button, your waist, and hips, your pelvic area in between your allegs. And behind your knees. This is where ticks like to stay because they’re warm areas so make sure you check and double check and if you have a small Child, please check them and as always check your pets if you do see a tick, you need to remove it as soon as you discover it. This is gonna ensure that you have less risk of a tick borne disease to safely. Remove the tick, they do have tick removers that work really really well. You can also use a fine tip tweezer and just firmly grasp the tick close to the skin try not to squeeze the body of the tick. Do not be alarmed at the ticks mouth parts stay in the skin once the mouth parts are removed from the rest of the tick. It can no longer spread the disease. Dispose of the tick by putting it in alcohol and placing it in a sealed bag or container or wrapping it tightly and tape. Flushing it down the toilet, but never crushed a tick with your finger fingers.. After removing the tick, make sure that you wash your hands obviously was soap clean the tick bite with soap and water or use rubbing alcohol. And then make sure you monitor your health for the next 30 days and look for symptoms, such as a fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, or fatigue. Make sure to contact your Primary Care Doctor as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms. For more information on ticks and tick borne diseases visit the health department website
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