Tick Trick - ap file

FILE - A deer tick is viewed under a microscope in the entomology lab at the University of Rhode Island in South Kingstown, R.I., on March 2002. Hungry ticks have some slick tricks. They can zoom through the air using static electricity to latch onto people, pets and other animals, according to a study published Friday, June 30, 2023, in the journal Current Biology. (AP Photo/Victoria Arocho, File)

 Victoria Arocho

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Tick season is ramping up, and local health experts are reminding people to protect themselves from tickborne illness.

The Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness has a "Spot a Tick and Share" program. If you are bitten by a tick or find one, you can give it to the program to study and test for disease.

Environmental specialist Matthew Vanderpool said not all ticks carry a disease.

"What we have learned other than just, yes, we have these species of ticks and this is where they are distributed in the community, we have found some disease in these ticks," Vanderpool explained. "Now this isn't go running through the streets scared, because only one percent or less than one percent of the ticks we've collected have had any disease present in their bodies at all."

According to U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been an increase in the number of emergency visits nationwide for tick bites in the last month.

Ticks are small parasites that feed on the blood of animals and people. You can be exposed to ticks in wooded or bushy areas or in your own yard.

Exposure to ticks can happen all year round, but they tend to be more active during warmer months. They can spread diseases to both pets and people. Diseases they carry include Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease.

Most common tickborne diseases found in Kentucky are:

  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever
  • Ehrlichiosis

Health officials said to protect yourself, you should wear insect repellent and inspect your body for ticks or rashes after being outside. If you find one, remove the head and body of the tick and monitor your symptoms. Symptoms include fever, body aches and rashes. Seek medical attention if they develop.

To submit a tick, follow these steps:

  • Place the tick in an airtight container, not a plastic bag.
  • Cover the tick in rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
  • Label the container with your name and contact information.
  • Complete and attach this form that you can also find on louisvilleky.gov.
  • Drop off the sample at Public Health and Wellness headquarters at 400 E. Gray St. Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For more information about ticks, prevention tips and proper removal, visit LMPHW’s webpage.

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