(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Samantha Kerr, of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), urged state residents to watch out for ticks this summer, especially after spending time in wooded areas or tall grass.
Kerr said people can take steps to protect themselves and their pets from a variety of potentially serious diseases caused by ticks this summer.
“We recommend an EPA-registered repellant, which would contain deet, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus,” Kerr said.
If someone finds a tick on their body or on their pet, the best thing to do is remove the tick.
“The best method for doing that is to take a pair of fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick right where it is attached at the skin, and pull straight up,” Kerr said.
Kerr recommended keeping those ticks in a sealed bag or container for a few days. If you or your pet develop a rash or fever, it’s useful for doctors to see what kind of tick they’re dealing with as they develop a treatment plan.
On its website, the IDPH said that the best places to check for ticks are: on a person’s underarms, ears, belly button, waist, hair, scalp, behind their knees, and between their legs.
Residents can see which tick species have been confirmed in their county by using this map from the IDPH website.
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