DHSS Press Release

DPH RECOGNIZES MAY AS LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

DPH Reminds Delawareans to Protect Against Ticks

DOVER, DE (May 9, 2024) – As warmer weather brings people outdoors and potentially in contact with ticks, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is recognizing Lyme Disease Awareness Month this May. According to DPH’s Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Delaware, with over 300 cases reported each year.

Lyme disease is spread by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick (also known as a deer tick). The tick must remain attached for 24 or more hours to spread the bacteria. In some cases, a rash resembling a bullseye will appear near the site of the bite. If an expanding rash with a diameter of more than two inches appears or flu-like symptoms occur over a 30-day period following a tick bite, individuals should contact their health care provider immediately.

“Because ticks are found outdoors in most areas of Delaware, Lyme Disease Awareness Month is an opportunity for DPH to educate Delawareans about the importance of tick bite prevention,” said DPH Director Steven Blessing. “By taking simple precautions, individuals can protect themselves and their families while enjoying the outdoors.”

If you find a tick on yourself or a friend or family member, make sure to use tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward. Never use folklore remedies like “painting” the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin. Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible.

To avoid tick bites:

• Avoid wooded or brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
• Stick to the center of trails.
• Treat clothing with products containing 0.5% permethrin or use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing products like Diethyltoluamide (DEET). Always follow label instructions.
• Perform tick checks on yourself, children, and pets after being outdoors.
• Shower within two hours of coming indoors and tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks.
• Keep pets up to date on tick prevention products.

To practice tick safety at home:

• Create a “Tick-Safe Zone” through landscaping.
  • Place a three-foot-wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas and around patios and play equipment.
  • Maintain a nine-foot-wide barrier between the wood chips and high-use areas.
• Remove leaf litter and invasive plants such as multiflora rose, Japanese honeysuckle, Japanese barberry or Oriental bittersweet.
• Keep grass short in high-use areas and keep leaves raked.
• Keep your yard free of trash and debris. This discourages rodents, which ticks feed on.

For more information about Lyme disease and tips for preventing tick-borne illnesses, visit the DPH Lyme disease webpage at https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dph/epi/lyme.html and Delaware’s Lyme Disease Education Oversight Board’s webpage at https://www.lymediseaseeducation.org/.

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), a division of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, is a nationally accredited public health agency recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for its outstanding dedication to driving change through innovation.

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by dialing 711 first using specialized devices (i.e. TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, please visit delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.