Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is on pace for its highest number of reported cases of anaplasmosis – a tickborne disease that is becoming more common in the state. Anaplasmosis is transmitted by the black-legged tick, which is the same tick that spreads Lyme disease, and the most common tick found in Vermont. As of September, 133 cases of anaplasmosis have been reported, only six fewer than were reported for all of 2015.
Although anaplasmosis cases peak in the spring and summer, a second surge in illnesses occurs in the autumn. That is when adult ticks are hungry and looking for another blood meal before winter arrives.
"Anaplasmosis is a serious illness, and we’re seeing more of it in Vermont," said Bradley Tompkins, infectious disease epidemiologist. According to Tompkins, over one-third of the anaplasmosis cases reported to the Health Department are sick enough to be hospitalized, compared to 3 percent for Lyme disease. Symptoms can include fever, headache, chills and muscle aches. Anaplasmosis can be successfully treated with antibiotics, especially if treatment is given early.
Tompkins urges people to not drop their guard just because summer is over. "Whether you’re doing yard work, admiring the changing leaves, or heading out into the woods to hunt, it’s important to take precautions to prevent tick bites"
What to do to avoid tick bites:
REPEL – Before you go outside, apply an EPA-registered insect repellent on your skin and treat your clothes with permethrin. When possible, wear light-colored long sleeved shirts and long pants, and tuck your pants into your socks to keep ticks from your skin.
INSPECT – Do daily tick checks on yourself, your children and pets.
REMOVE – Remove ticks right away. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has also been proven effective in washing ticks off the skin before they attach. Put clothing into the dryer on hot heat for 10 minutes to kill remaining ticks.
WATCH – If you were bitten by a tick, watch for signs of disease during the weeks following the bite. Early signs of anaplasmosis include fever, headache, chills and muscle aches, and usually occur within one to two weeks of a tick bite. Call your health care provider if you experience these symptoms.
Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis is a disease caused by infection of the bacterium, Anaplasma phagocytophilum. In the eastern United States, the disease is spread by the bite of an infected black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis. This is the same tick that can transmit Lyme disease. Anaplasmosis is also known as human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) and can be similar to another tick-borne disease,ehrlichiosis. However, these are distinct diseases that are transmitted by different ticks.
How to Safely Remove a Tick
Try to remove the tick as soon as you discover it because prompt removal can prevent transmission of tick-borne diseases.
1. Use fine-tipped tweezers and firmly grasp the tick close to the skin. Avoid touching the tick with your bare hands
2. With a steady motion, pull straight up until all parts of the tick are removed. Do not twist or jerk the tick. Do not be alarmed if the tick’s mouthparts remain in the skin. Once the mouthparts are removed from the rest of the tick, it can no longer transmit disease-causing bacteria.
DO NOT use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products to remove a tick. These methods are neffective.
Thoroughly wash your hands and the bite area
After removing the tick, wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Clean the tick bite with soap and water or use an antiseptic such as iodine scrub or rubbing alcohol.
More Information
- Vermont Department of Health, Epidemiology Field Unit
1-800-640-4374 (in VT only), or 1-802-863-7240.
Learn more about anaplasmosis and other tickborne diseases
Source: VT Health Dept 9.27.2016