Tick Season in Sussex County: Stay Safe and Informed

As spring blooms and outdoor activities beckon, it’s important to remember that with the warmer weather comes the arrival of tick season in Sussex County. As Delawareans, we are all too familiar with black-legged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks. These tiny pests are not just a nuisance; they can also pose significant health risks.

Peak Tick Season

According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the peak season for ticks is May and June. However, with warmer weather, ticks can survive longer and reproduce faster, extending their presence well beyond these months.

Health Risks of Tick Bites

Ticks are notorious for transmitting Lyme disease, a serious and potentially chronic condition if not treated promptly. However, Lyme disease is not the only threat. Ticks can also carry organisms that cause other flu-like illnesses, such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis.

Prevention and Early Treatment

Our physicians at Atracare want to emphasize the importance of early detection and treatment. If you find a tick attached to your skin, it’s crucial to know that you can receive antibiotics not only to treat Lyme disease but also as a preventive measure (prophylaxis) after removing the tick.

Here’s what you need to know:

• If you believe the tick is a deer tick.
• If it was attached for 36 hours or more.
• If you visit an Urgent Care or a Primary Care Physician (PCP) within 3 days of removing the tick.

In these cases, you should seek medical advice to get antibiotics for prophylaxis, which can significantly reduce the risk of developing Lyme disease.

Atracare’s Services

Atracare offers comprehensive Lyme disease testing at both its Urgent Care locations in Lewes and Ocean View. Our dedicated team is here to provide prompt and effective care to ensure your peace of mind during tick season.

Stay Safe Outdoors

As you enjoy the beautiful outdoors this season, take precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones from ticks. Wear long sleeves and pants, use tick repellents, and perform thorough tick checks after spending time outside.

By staying informed and taking preventive measures, you can enjoy the great outdoors while minimizing the risk of tick-borne illnesses.

For more information on tick-borne diseases and available services, visit Atracare.com.

References:

• Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). (2024). Tick and Lyme Disease Prevention. DNREC Website.
• Shifflett, S.A., Wiedmeyer, T., Kennedy, A., Maestas, L., Buoni, M., Ciloglu, A., and Ellis, V.A. 2023. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and diversity of its outer surface protein C (ospC) alleles in blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) in Delaware. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 14.
• Kumar, D., Sharma, S.R., Adegoke, A., Kennedy, A., Tuten, H.C., Li, A.Y., and Karim, S. 2022. Recently Evolved Francisella-Like Endosymbiont Outcompetes an Ancient and Evolutionarily Associated Coxiella-Like Endosymbiont in the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) Linked to the Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
• Kennedy, A., and Winter, W. 2022. First records of Ixodes brunneus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Delaware. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 13(2).
• Kennedy, A.C., and Marshall, E. 2021. Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum): An emerging threat in Delaware. Delaware Journal of Public Health 7(1).
• Maestas, L.P., McGay, P.J., and Reeser, S.R. 2020. Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) detected in New Castle and Kent Counties, Delaware. Northeastern Naturalist 27(1): N6-N10.
• Maestas, L., Reeser, S.R., McGay, P.J., and Buoni, M.H. 2020. Surveillance for Amblyomma maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Rickettsia parkeri (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in the state of Delaware, and their public health implications. Journal of Medical Entomology 57(3): 979-983.
• W.H. Meredith and S.C. Eppes, 2017, Climate Change: Vector-Borne Diseases and Their Control — Mosquitoes and Ticks, Delaware Journal of Public Health, Vol. 3(5), DOI: 10.32481/djph.2017.10.009