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Prevention of Tickborne diseases

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​Pr​evention of Tickborne Diseases

  • Look for ticks in late spring through early fall, when they are most active.
  • Limit direct contact with ticks by avoiding wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Also, walk in the center of trails.
  • Wear long pants and long sleeves to help keep ticks off your body.
  • Tuck shirts into pants, and pants into socks, to keep ticks on the outside of clothing.​
  • ​Wear light colored clothing to help spot ticks more easily.
  • Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)​ registered insect repellents containing
    • DEET​;
    • picaridin;
    • IR3535
    • Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE)
    • Paraomenthane-diol (PMD)
    • 2-undecanone 
  • Use repellent ​on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours. Always follow product instructions. 
    • ​Parents should apply repellent to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth.
  • Clothing may be pre-tre​​ated by using products that contain permethrin. 
    • ​Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin, which remains protective through several washings. 
    • Alternatively, clothing pre-treated with permethrin may be purchased.
  • To ensure elimination of ticks from clothing:
    • Wash clothing in hot water.
    • Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks effectively.
    • If it is not possible to wash clothes in hot water then tumble dry on low heat for 90 minutes or high heat for 60 minutes.
    • For dry clothing, tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks.
    • If the clothes are damp, additional drying time may be needed. The clothes should be warm and completely dry.


Prevention Aids