Updated

Updated · lehighvalleylive.com · Jun 7

Pennsylvania Officials Honor 18 Students for Tick-Safety Art as Lyme Risks Persist

Updated

Updated · lehighvalleylive.com · Jun 7

Pennsylvania Officials Honor 18 Students for Tick-Safety Art as Lyme Risks Persist

Q: Your bug spray isn't foolproof. What clothing treatment is proven to reduce tick bites by nearly 75 times?

Permethrin-treated clothing is the proven answer. Research cited in the reporting found that people wearing permethrin-treated sneakers and socks were nearly 74 times less likely to get a tick bite than those wearing untreated footwear. That matters because bug spray alone is not foolproof. Unlike skin repellents such as DEET, permethrin is applied to clothing, shoes, and gear, where it kills ticks on contact rather than just discouraging them. Pennsylvania officials specifically recommend treating shoes, clothes, and outdoor gear with permethrin as an added layer of protection. The treatment is typically used on fabric, not directly on skin. Store-bought 0.5% permethrin sprays are commonly used for this purpose, and factory-treated clothing can remain effective through many washes. Once dry, permethrin-treated clothing is considered safe for people to wear, though wet permethrin is toxic to cats. For the best protection, experts pair permethrin-treated clothing with other steps: cover exposed skin, use an EPA-approved repellent on skin, check yourself and pets after being outdoors, shower soon after coming inside, and dry clothes on high heat to kill any ticks left behind.

2 articles · Updated · lehighvalleylive.com · Jun 7

Eighteen students were recognized by Pennsylvania officials at a May 14 event in Harrisburg for “Protect. Check. Remove.” artworks promoting tick awareness and outdoor safety.
The campaign centers on simple prevention steps: cover exposed skin, use EPA-approved repellents, spray permethrin on shoes and clothing, and check people and pets thoroughly after time outside.
Officials also urged quick follow-up at home — showering soon after outdoor activity and drying clothes on high heat to remove or kill ticks that may have been missed.
Tick bites remain a significant health concern in Pennsylvania because they can spread Lyme disease, while lone star ticks can trigger alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially life-threatening red-meat allergy.

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lehighvalleylive.com1d ago

Pennsylvania Officials Recognize 18 Students for Tick Awareness Artworks

MSN1d ago

Run-in with teeny-tiny ticks in Pa. serves as reminder of threat they pose | From the Trailhead

Your bug spray isn't foolproof. What clothing treatment is proven to reduce tick bites by nearly 75 times?

A tick bite can now make you allergic to red meat. Is this incurable syndrome spreading to your state?

Beyond Lyme, one tick can transmit multiple diseases. How is climate change amplifying your risk of a complex co-infection?

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2 total

lehighvalleylive.com1d ago

Pennsylvania Officials Recognize 18 Students for Tick Awareness Artworks

MSN1d ago

Run-in with teeny-tiny ticks in Pa. serves as reminder of threat they pose | From the Trailhead

Pennsylvania Officials Honor 18 Students for Tick-Safety Art as Lyme Risks Persist

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