TO ALL DIGGERS: THIS IS IMPORTANT HEALTH-WISE –> PLEASE READ!

[Jim in Idaho]

Best defense is to treat your outdoor clothing with Sawyers Permethrin. Then get some Picaridin insect repellant for your exposed skin. You can get both at Walmart. I've had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and don't ever want to catch it again...bad stuff. Or Lyme disease. I often even sleep in my treated clothes when camping, to be sure a tick, that I brought back to the camper, doesn't get me in my sleep. These tick-borne diseases are no joke folks.
Jim

[DaytonaRacer]

On Saturday I bought "Quantum Health Insect Repellent, Natural, Buzz Away Extreme" in both a 4oz trial size spray (for use at home) and a 24 towelette box (to keep in the truck). It's supposed to be good for mosquitos, black flies, fleas, and ticks. We'll see if it works (IF it ever stops raining here in NJ long enough for me to get back out there).

[Patriot 1776]

Great Information, excellent
thank you

[Scrappy]

All good info. I've had Lymes 4 times having grown up on Eastern Long Island. Actually lived on Martha's Vineyard too.

Now, I act like I have dementia when people ask where my sites are.

Thanks for posting

[Deft Tones]

Once my mother-in-law scoffed at me as I sprayed my kids down with deet, "That stuff is so bad for them!"

I gave her a look of disapproval and said, "Do you know what is worse then Deet? No? Lyme disease and encephalitis!"

She shut up.

[The_Piratess]

Less than 50% of people bitten by a tick carrying Lyme will end up with a Bull's Eye rash. The initial symptoms of Lyme are usually flu-like or a general feeling of malaise. A deer tick is about the size of a sesame seed. The nymph deer tick is about the size of a poppy seed and must have a blood meal in order to develop into an adult or it will die. They are found in/on trees, bushes, tall grasses, fallen leaves, tree/branch cuttings and especially where there is moisture.

The current ELISA test as mandated by the CDC misses 90%+ of Lyme infections as there are various types and they only test for a few. If you have it and are lucky enough that it actually does show up on the ELISA test, then you will be allowed to have a Western Blot test done which is more accurate. It still misses quite a few and doesn't test for all strains. The most common strain in the U.S. is Borellia burgdorferi but there are more and more are still being found. Lyme disease is never by itself as there are many co-infections with it such as babesia, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and many others. Often these co-infections with Lyme require different medications and treatment modalities. Having Lyme diagnosed and treated immediately is your best hope for recovery! Imogex labs have the best and most accurate testing. Two to six weeks of Doxycycline 100mg. twice per day is recommended depending upon how fast you were diagnosed and only if you were diagnosed within the first 30 days. Please take this very seriously as Lyme Disease is extremely debilitating and can be fatal!

[Chief Digger]

DndEnd

[Old Pueblo]

If you wake up and find a tick stuck to your belly, does that mean you have lyme disease?

[The_Piratess]

If you wake up and find a tick stuck to your belly, does that mean you have lyme disease?

No it does not. If you live in Arizona, then the odds are that you probably do not also. There are not many cases of Lyme disease in Arizona. A lot of people who have or have had Lyme disease move to Arizona for that reason as it is mostly dry and arid which is not conducive for ticks as they require more moisture to thrive. However if you get a Bulls Eye rash in that area, start not feeling well or unusually tired and if you just want to be sure then have a test done. Hope this helps.

[The_Piratess]

Powassan Virus is even more dangerous than Lyme Disease. It is potentially fatal. Powassan virus differs in Lyme in that it can be transferred from a tick to a human in a matter of minutes. Unlike Lyme which is a bacteria, the Powassan is a virus so the options are much less to do anything about it. Two more cases reported in Maine have health officials on high alert as agencies across the nation brace for a particularly high-population tick season. So be careful out there and HH!

Powassan virus: Potentially fatal tick disease that can be transmitted in minutes reported in Maine | Fox News

[Old Pueblo]

Thank Jesus. One time I was sleeping on a couch at my grandmothers when I was a kid and woke with a tick stuck to me, near my belly button. My grandmas poodle used to get them sometimes and I guess the spot I chose to sleep in was the dog's spot.

[creskol]

DndEnd

? ?

[creskol]

https://www.wired.com/story/lone-sta...-be-spreading/

[DaytonaRacer]

Oh wonderful. Thanks, creskol.