Don't Panic. You Can Prevent Lyme Disease
With symptoms ranging from fever, headaches and fatigue to damaging infections of the joints, heart and nervous system, Lyme disease is a significant health concern.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi which is transmitted to humans and animals through tick bites. “Although many tick species can transmit Lyme disease, deer ticks are primary carriers in the United States,” says Mark Dayhoff, wildlife control expert and general manager of Tridentcorp.com.
What if I Get Lyme Disease?
Currently, there is not a vaccine for Lyme Disease. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that "Patients treated with appropriate antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually recover rapidly and completely. Antibiotics commonly used for oral treatment include doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil. Patients with certain neurological or cardiac forms of illness may require intravenous treatment with drugs such as ceftriaxone or penicillin."
Deer Fencing Could Save Your Life
According to the National Center for Biological Information, a division of the National Institute of Health, the use of deer fencing has been proven to reduce the risk of Lyme disease by 83-97%! Without deer entering the area surrounding your home, new deer ticks become limited and eventually, existing deer ticks become scarce.
In addition, the CDC encourages homeowners to create a tick-safe zoning area around the home. They recommend the following:
- Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns.
- Place a 3-ft wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas and around patios and play equipment. This will restrict tick migration into recreational areas.
- Mow the lawn frequently and keep leaves raked.
- Stack wood neatly and in a dry area (discourages rodents that ticks feed on).
- Keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees and place them in a sunny location, if possible.
- Apply deer repellents and pesticides.
See deer fencing systems from Deerbusters.com for options.
How to Remove a Deer Tick
Once you spot the tick, it is critical that you remove it at once. The sooner the better! Remember, you will have less than 48 hours to remove the tick before the transmission of Lyme Disease is possible.
Household tweezers will not be durable enough for removing a tick. We suggest purchasing the Tick Nipper Tick Removal Tool on Deerbusters.com for easy handling. Not only is this tool strong enough to remove the tick, but it will allow you to inspect the tick with the 20x magnification lense leaving you at peace that you have removed all parts of the insect from your body.
Here's What You do:
1) Get the Tick Nipper Tick Removal Tool available on Deerbusters.com.
2) Disinfect the tick-biting area with rubbing alcohol.
3) Grab the tick straight out. Be sure that the head comes out completely. Remember: Tick-borne disease transmission is not possible without the tick's body*
4) Disinfect the tick-biting area with rubbing alcohol one final time.
5) Consider getting tested to ensure you do not have Lyme Disease.