Mosquitos and Ticks; The Diseases They Could Give You

Mosquitos and Ticks; The Diseases They Could Give You!

It is that time of year when we start spending more time outdoors. This is a most welcomed event for most people. Unfortunately, it also means the return of mosquitos and ticks and the diseases they can carry. Not all mosquitos and ticks carry disease, but there is no way to tell which ones are infected.

Mosquitos get infected by biting or eating infected birds. Most infections occur between June and September.

Mosquitos in Wisconsin mainly carry California (Lacrosse) Encephalitis and the West Nile Virus. We have not had a reported human case of either in Washburn County but have had wildlife cases, so we know that human disease is probable, just not reported.

It is estimated that 70-80% of those infected with the West Nile Virus will never know they have or have had it, due to the lack of or mild nature of the symptoms; a low grade fever and a headache. Due to the mild nature of the disease in most persons and the quick recovery, most infected persons never seek medical attention, are not tested and the case is never confirmed, so not reported to the Local Health Department, so not counted as a case.

In about 1% of infections, the person will develop severe neurologic illness. This can include high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, seizures, paralysis, coma, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). Recovery from severe disease can take months, with possible permanent neuro effects. 10% of those that develop severe disease will die.

There is no specific treatment, just symptom relief. Nor is there a vaccine available for either of these mosquito diseases.

The same is true of the Tick Diseases. As many infections are not confirmed with blood work, they are not count as cases. Despite this, in 2017 Tick Diseases accounted for 75% of the Communicable Disease Investigations in Washburn County. The most common Tick Diseases in Washburn County are Anaplasma, Ehrlichiosis, and Lyme. These diseases are carried by the Deer Tick. It is orange-brown with a black spot nears its head and very small, about half the size of the Dog Tick.

The most common symptoms of tick diseases include fever, headache, fatigue, chills, joint pain, neck stiffness, and rash. If left on untreated, symptoms can progress, requiring hospitalization and the potential for long term permanent damage.

However, unlike the mosquito diseases, antibiotic treatment is available for these tick diseases. For those persons living in highly endemic Lyme areas, such as Washburn County, it is recommended that if you have a deer tick attached to you, that you receive a single preventative treatment dose of antibiotics within 3 days. So, if you find a Deer Tick attached, call your medical provider to see if you are a candidate for this preventative treatment option.

Prevention is your best protection against both mosquito and tick disease. Prevention efforts start with the 3 D’s; Drain (mosquitos only), Dress, and Defend.

Drain: Mosquitos love damp swampy areas and standing water. This is where they breed. Removing standing water is the key. Remove or cover anything that can hold water. This includes old tires, buckets, watering cans, children’s toys, (including pools and sand boxes), and rain water collection containers. Clean your gutters, empty standing water from planters, repair leaky outdoor faucets, remove and replace water in bird baths frequently. By implementing these simple measures, you can reduce the mosquito population in and around your home.

Dress: Wear light colored (ticks will be easier to see and studies have shown that mosquitos are more attracted to dark colored clothing), loose fitting clothing, and when practical, long sleeves, pants, socks and shoes. Tuck shirt in and tuck pants into socks.

Defend: Choose a repellent that is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Read the direction before using any of these products, as registered products pose less risk when used according to the label directions. For mosquites these protects include one or more of the following: DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, and/or IR3535. For ticks the approved protects include 0.5% permethrin or 20-30% DEET. Take a shower when come in from outdoors after using any of these products. Also remember to complete visual tick inspection on yourself and your family daily.

Washburn County Health Department received a limited supply of an approved repellent from the West Wisconsin Public Health Readiness Consortium to distribute to Adult Washburn County residents (1 per household) while the supply lasts.

Washburn County Health Department in collaboration with the State of Wisconsin monitors for the presence of West Nile Virus in Washburn County through surveillance of Dead Corvids. Corvids are a classification of birds that include the Blue Jay, Crow, and Raven. We ask the public to notify the Dead Bird Hotline @ 1-800-433-1610, if they find any of the above dead. Once 1 corvid in Washburn County tests positive, surveillance is stopped and the county is declared to have the presence of The West Nile Virus. Last year, it was not declared in Washburn County until September.

A variety of tick surveillance projects are also conducted annually in Washburn County.

For any questions related to Mosquito or Tick Diseases contact Washburn County Health Department at 715-635-4400.

Resources: www.cdc.gov, www.dhs.wisconsin.gov, www.wi.dnr, and www.co.washburn.wi.us/department/health-human-services/public-health