INDIANAPOLIS – Summer weather is here and with that comes an increase in tick activity. “We are all ready to enjoy the outdoors again,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Jennifer Brown. “We ask Hoosiers to take precautions so we don’t see a bump in tick-borne illnesses, which are preventable.”
While Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Indiana, Hoosiers are also at risk for other tick-borne diseases, including ehrlichiosis and spotted fever group rickettsiosis.
The risk for ehrlichiosis is highest in southern Indiana, but tick-borne diseases are present across the whole state, so all Hoosiers should take steps to prevent tick bites.
Precautions include:
- Knowing where ticks are likely to be present (close to the ground in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas)
- Treating boots, clothing, and outdoor gear with 0.5% permethrin
- Using EPA-registered insect repellents with active ingredients such as DEET and picaridin
- Treating pets for ticks in consultation with a veterinarian
Once indoors, you should thoroughly check for ticks on clothing, pets, and skin. Tumbling clothes in the dryer on high for 30 minutes will kill ticks, and showering can help remove unattached ticks. For more information about ticks and how to prevent the diseases they carry, click here.
