BATESVILLE — Tick activity across the United States is reaching levels not seen in nearly 10 years, with emergency department visits for tick bites at their highest rate for this time of year since 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the South Central region including Arkansas has seen relatively lower spikes compared to the Northeast and Midwest, local health experts say warmer winters and early spring conditions have pushed tick populations higher in the state. Officials with the Arkansas Department of Health are warning residents to take extra precautions as outdoor activities increase during the Memorial Day weekend and summer season.
Ticks can transmit several serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis. Health officials recommend the following steps to reduce the risk of bites:
- Wear light-colored long sleeves and pants when outdoors, tucking pants into socks or boots.
- Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET on skin and permethrin on clothing and gear.
- Avoid walking through tall grass, brushy areas and leaf litter; stay in the center of trails.
- Check yourself, children and pets thoroughly for ticks after being outdoors.
- Shower within two hours of coming indoors to wash off unattached ticks.
- Remove any attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping close to the skin and pulling steadily upward without twisting.
Residents who develop symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue or joint pain after a tick bite should seek medical attention promptly.
Yard maintenance can also help reduce tick populations by keeping grass mowed short, removing leaf litter and creating gravel or wood chip barriers between wooded areas and lawns.
For more information on tick prevention, Independence County residents can contact the Arkansas Department of Health or visit healthy.arkansas.gov.
