MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.—County Executive Steve Neuhaus has warned residents about the danger of tick and mosquito bites and how to prevent them as New York faces an intense tick season.
“Orange County is home to many beautiful outdoor destinations and recreational opportunities,” Neuhaus said in a statement. “As we enjoy the summer season, it is important that we take simple preventive measures to protect ourselves and our families from tick and mosquito bites.”
New York ranks near the top of the chart for the number of tick bites in the nation, and the Hudson Valley is historically a hotspot for Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness. A study in 2014 of 50 tested ticks in Orange County found that 72 percent carried Lyme disease.
Ticks are often found around wooded areas, tall grasses, leaf litter and piles, and other humid environments. Mosquitos can be found where there is warm air and still water, even in buckets, bird baths, or toys left out in the rain.
Orange County Deputy Commissioner of Health Lisa Lahiff said in the statement that prevention is the strongest defense against tick- and mosquito-borne diseases.
The health department suggests remembering the three A’s of bite prevention: awareness, attire, and application.
Awareness means knowing where ticks and mosquitoes are found, staying on trails while hiking, and remembering that mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk.
For attire, people should wear long shirts and pants, socks, and closed-toed shoes when outdoors. Light-colored clothes can help you identify ticks on you. Tying loose hair up is also recommended.
Application refers to using insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535, as they are especially effective against mosquitoes and ticks. Treating gear and clothing with repellents should also be considered.
To find and remove ticks after being outside, people should check themselves visually, shower to wash off any loose ticks, and dry their clothes for at least 10 minutes to kill the parasites. A tick that is biting someone should be removed immediately with tweezers, and that person should watch for symptoms such as fevers, rashes, or headaches.
Tick season generally lasts between May and November, with the peak biting season being between June and August. Nymphs, young ticks that can be the size of a poppy seed, are more common toward the beginning of the tick season, while adults, about the size of a sesame seed, are more common in August and after.
Mosquitos in New York can spread eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus, the former being rare but often fatal and the latter being more common but less severe.
