Plattsburgh, NY

                                                                                                                                                                         

  TICKS

             


Tick Information

 There are more than 850 tick species, and 30 major tick-borne diseases; the United States has 82 species of ticks that combined can cause nine major diseases. These diseases include Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Tick Paralysis, Tick-borne Relapsing Fever, Tularemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Colorado Tick Fever. Most of the symptoms are similar to the flu, such as fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, vomiting and fatigue.

Two common types of ticks are dog ticks and deer ticks. Dog ticks can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Deer ticks carry Lyme disease.
 


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 What do Ticks Look Like?

 Dog ticks while feeding, can be as large as a small pea. They have four pairs of legs, are reddish-brown, flat and are easy to spot. Female deer ticks have four pairs of legs and are red and black in color, while the male is all black. They about the size of a sesame seed.


 When are Ticks Around?

Ticks can be found through the year, but they are most active during the spring, early summer and fall, when it is warm and moist.


What are the Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

 Per the Center for Disease Control (CDC), people usually start having fevers and feeling nauseous about a week after being bitten by a tick, although some people do not remember having had a tick bite. A few days after the fever begins, people who have Rocky Mountain spotted fever often have a rash, usually on their arms or ankles. They also may have pain in their joints, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Sometimes people with this disease are very sick and have to go to the hospital. Some of these symptoms are also similar to Lyme disease, caused by the deer tick.
 
How can I Protect Myself?

Your best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation. However, if you garden, hike, camp, hunt, work, or otherwise spend time in the outdoors, you can still protect yourself:

Wear light-colored clothing.
Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors.
Consider using insect repellent.
Stay on clear, well-traveled trails. Avoid contacting vegetation.
Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.
Keep long hair tied back.
Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day.

How do I Remove a Tick?

 To remove a tick properly, follow the instructions from the NY State Health Department.


Contact Us

 To receive more information, call or visit us at:

Clinton County Health Department
Environmental Unit
135 Margaret Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Tel: (518) 565-4870
 

                                                                          

                         Note:  These are external web links.

Clinton County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision
of services. The information on the Clinton County Health Department website is for educational purposes only. Nothing on the pages of this site shall be construed
as medical, fitness, dietetic, or other professional advice. This information is based on current beliefs among researchers and research studies published in the
current scientific literature. Clinton County is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse any content on external web links.

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