Ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and other disease carrying insects
- Lyme Disease
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)
- West Nile Virus (WNv)
How can I get sick?
- You get bitten by an infected tick, flea or mosquito
How bad can it get?
- Symptoms can range from mild illness to hospitalization or death
How can I protect myself?
- Prevent tick bites
- Walk on cleared trails
- Wear a hat, long sleeves and pants, and light-colored clothing
- Tuck pant legs into socks or boots
- Use insect repellents (with DEET) on clothing and exposed skin
- Inspect clothes, skin and pets for ticks
- Remove the whole tick by grasping as close to the tick’s head as possible
- Slowly pull tick straight out
- Try not to squeeze the tick as you remove it
- Keep the tick, show it to your doctor
- Prevent MOSQUITO bites
- Wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing
- Use insect repellents (with DEET) – NOTE: DEET may not be safe for infants and children
Not feeling well?
- Initial symptoms may be mild and include the following:
- Muscle pains
- Sore throat
- More serious conditions can develop, and include the sudden onset of:
- Chest pain
- Muscle pain
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite and/or weight
- Consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms up to two months after exposure to ticks, fleas or mosquitoes