New England Experts Urge 24-Hour Tick Checks as Northeast Bite Visits Rise
Updated
Updated · The Boston Globe · Jun 11
New England Experts Urge 24-Hour Tick Checks as Northeast Bite Visits Rise
3 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · Jun 11
Summary
CDC data show Northeast emergency-department visits for tick bites are rising as New England enters peak tick season and Massachusetts reports sharply higher tick-borne illness counts.
24 hours is the key threshold experts cite: ticks typically must stay attached longer than that to transmit bacteria such as those causing Lyme disease, making frequent body checks and shower checks a main defense.
Permethrin-treated clothing—especially socks, shoes, pants and shirts—was recommended as the strongest protection, while DEET and picaridin on skin also repel ticks but require repeated application.
Experts said lawn sprays with synthetic pyrethroids can create only a temporary, localized barrier, and advised pet owners to use tick treatments and check animals before they come indoors.
Alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease remain among the risks, but specialists said prevention can sharply cut exposure and should not keep people from outdoor summer activities.