Ticks, Mosquitos, and What to Look Out For

A recent release from the Arkansas Department of Health is stressing the importance of taking precautions against ticks and mosquitoes and the diseases they can carry. You may not know it but Arkansas has one of the highest rates in the nation for tick-borne diseases. Some diseases carried by ticks include, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, urluhkeeohsis, and Tulareemia. While mosquitos in Arkansas can carry West Nile Virus. Some of these diseases can be fatal; and some can also be difficult to diagnose and treat. If you or your child is found to have a tick be on the lookout for symptoms such as fever, chills, rash, fatigue, or aches and pains within the following weeks of the bite. These symptoms could be a sign of such a disease and its important to see a medical provider quickly. If you find a tick on yourself or a child, take a picture of it on your phone, only to have as reference at a later time in case symptoms do occur. Preventative methods should be taken to avoid these little pests when possible. Consider an EPA-approved insect repellant. Wear long sleeves and pants lighter in color to help make it easier to spot ticks. Tuck your pants into your socks or boots to prevent easy access to these creepy critters. If found ticks should be removed immediately. To remove a tick use a pair of tweezers positioning them as close to your skin as possible and gently lifting up to remove. To help reduce the mosquito population around your home make sure to get rid of any standing water as it can become a breeding ground. It’s important to note that mosquitos can breed in as little as a bottle cap full of water. To learn more about safety precautions surrounding Arkansas insects visit healthy.arkansas.gov for more information.