CHI - St. Joseph's Health - MN

Summer brings welcoming weather for nearly everyone, including ticks and mosquitos, and with it a higher risk of insect-borne illnesses. More Tips to Ban Bites In wooded, brushy areas, wear light-colored, long-sleeve shirt and pants to avoid exposing skin to ticks. Create a three-foot wide wood-chip border around your lawn's perimeter to help keep ticks out of the yard. Arm your pets with a tick-prevention collar or medication. Avoid the Bite I t's summertime, and you want to work in the yard, hike in the woods, and play at the lake. You faithfully apply sunscreen before enjoying outdoor activities, but what about insect repellent? "Hubbard is among the highest-ranked counties in Minnesota for cases of Lyme disease, which is spread to humans through a deer tick bite," says Dr. Larry Leadbetter, Essentia Health physician. "If you reside or vacation here, be aware of the plentiful tick population and potential for Lyme disease." While Lyme disease is the most common tick- borne illness in Minnesota, CHI St. Joseph's Health also sees some cases of human anaplasmosis and babesiosis—other diseases spread by ticks. "With tick bites, start by looking for the tick itself," says RaeAnn Mayer, RN, PHN, CHI St. Joseph's Health Community Health Director. "A bull's-eye rash around the bite often appears, but not everyone gets one. If you've been bitten by a tick and then develop a fever, you should be examined by a healthcare provider." MORE THAN AN IRRITATION While West Nile virus, a disease spread by mosquito bite, is rare in Minnesota, CHI St. Joseph's Health has seen a few cases and is prepared to treat it. "Anyone older than 2 months should wear insect repellent containing picaridin or up to 30 percent DEET for protection from ticks and mosquitos." WENDY GULLICKSRUD, BSN, RN, CIC, CHI ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH INFECTION PREVENTION AND EMPLOYEE HEALTH COORDINATOR Another disease spread by mosquitos and on everyone's radar lately is the Zika virus, but it is not carried by mosquitos native to Minnesota. However, if you or your loved ones plan to travel, talk with your healthcare provider to ask if the destination is safe for your situation. Pregnant women, women hoping to become pregnant, and/or their spouses should avoid travel to areas where Zika virus-carrying mosquitos are active because a Zika infection in a pregnant woman can cause microcephaly in the developing fetus, resulting in developmental delays, vision and hearing issues, seizures, and other lifelong health concerns. "If you're going to be in the outdoors, especially near standing water or wooded areas, protect yourself," says Wendy Gullicksrud, BSN, RN, CIC, CHI St. Joseph's Health Infection Prevention and Employee Health Coordinator. "When outdoors, anyone older than 2 months should wear insect repellent containing picaridin or up to 30 percent DEET for protection from ticks and mosquitos. Also, thoroughly check for ticks and bites when you return indoors." If you have an insect bite accompanied by flu-like symptoms, such as fever, muscle fatigue, and nausea, ask your healthcare provider if you need treatment. Visit www.Health.State.MN.us for additional information about tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses. Tiny Terrors: A deer tick on an adult woman's hand www.CHISJH.org | CHI St. Joseph's Health 5

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