Ticks can become more active when temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and as warmer weather kicks in across the state, health officials say both Lyme Disease and anaplasmosis are on the rise. Both diseases are transmitted by Ixodes scapularis, also known as blacklegged ticks, or deer ticks.
A2021 Emerging and Zoonotic Disease Michigan Surveillance Surveyfound there were 864 probable human cases of Lyme disease. That’s nearly double the number of cases found in 2020.
Most cases, according to the same report, were found in the state’s Upper Peninsula and the western Lower Peninsula. Officials say the disease is endemic and expanding.
Dr. Emily Dinh is a medical entomologist with the Michigan Department of Health and Human services. She said the level of concern for disease-carrying ticks will grow as the summer nears.
“Since there aren’t any vaccines for any sort of tick-borne diseases for humans, I would definitely, strongly recommend tick bite prevention methods as temperatures warm up a lot like how people try to prevent sunburn,” she said.
Dinh recommends applying repellent after sunscreen before heading outdoors.
If an individual does get a tick bite, the tick should be removed immediately with tweezers.
To remove a tick, the MDHHS says to grasp the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible. With a steady motion, pull the tick’s body away from the skin.
Dinh said people should watch for symptoms for at least a month if they’ve encountered a tick, have been bitten, or have been in areas where ticks may have been present.
Symptoms of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are difficult to distinguish early on, Dinh said. Symptoms to lookout for include fever or chills, rash, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches.
“The reason I say an area where a tick may be present, oftentimes it’s the smaller ticks that go overlooked that are riskier for disease transmission to people,” Dinh said.
Ticks can latch on for days, making the tick more likely to transmit diseases if that tick is carrying any, Dinh said.
If caught early, individuals can be treated by a medical provider with antibiotics to decrease the risk of serious complications.
In addition to daily tick checks, officials recommend using repellent after applying sunscreen and showering or bathing as soon as possible after being outdoors.
The MDHHS also suggests avoiding tick-infested areas by avoiding contact with overgrown areas of grass, brush, or around leaf litter.
Pets should also be checked for ticks and owners should talk with their veterinarians about tick prevention products.
Individuals who need help identifying ticks can use the state's tick ID resource by either sending a photo the tick to mddhs-bugs@michigan.gov, or by sending the ticks by mail toMDHHS.
Links for more information on ticks:
- Michigan.gov/lyme
- EPA Find a Repellent tool.
- Apply sunscreen first, then repellent!
- Ticks and Your Health brochure
- Tick removal instructions