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[Sandra Repp <sjr37 AT cornell.edu>]

The Tompkins County Health Department has released the following advisory
concerning the numbers of Lyme Disease cases occurring here.  Their
web site: 

www.tompkins-co.org/health   has additional
information, as does the CCE-Tompkins site at:

http://ccetompkins.org/garden/avoiding-lyme-disease .

Tompkins County Health Department
Frank Kruppa – Public Health Director

LYME DISEASE ON THE INCREASE IN TOMPKINS COUNTY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact: Karen Bishop at 274-6604 or Theresa Lyczko
at 274-6714


June 30, 2011 (Ithaca, NY) – The number of Lyme Disease cases haas
steadily increased in Tompkins County since 2006 the Tompkins County
Health Department reports. Karen Bishop, Community Health Nurse
Supervisor noted that in 2006 there were 2 cases; in 2010 there were 70
with a steady increase in the interim. "In the past, Tompkins County
residents who had Lyme Disease usually acquired it while traveling in
other areas of the state or country. Now most of the cases are locally
acquired," she said. In 2011 to date there have been 14 cases of
Lyme Disease and 28 are probable cases pending confirmation. "That
is a serious increase," Mrs. Bishop noted. "Lyme Disease is
here and everyone should take the necessary precautions to prevent
it."

Tick-borne diseases are a serious health threat. Lyme disease may affect
the skin, nervous system, heart and joints.  If not treated early,
it can have permanent and severe health effects.

"Lyme disease is caused by the bite of an infected deer tick. In
some areas, any contact with plants or bushes, even in the backyard, has
the risk of contact with ticks," Mrs. Bishop said.

She urged all Tompkins County residents to remember:

• When in wooded and grassy areas, wear light-colored clothing and tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants.
• After every two to three hours outdoors, check for ticks on clothing or skin. Brush off any ticks on clothing before they can attach to your skin.
• Do a thorough check of your body at the end of the day.  Pay close attention to the back of the knees, behind the ears, scalp, arm pits and back. Check your children and pets, too.
• If you remove an attached tick within 36 hours, the risk of infection is small. To remove a tick: Use tweezers, grasping the tick near the mouthparts, as close to the skin as possible. Don't squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick, which may contain infectious fluids. Pull the tick in a steady, upward motion away from the skin. After removing the tick, disinfect the bite site with soap, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Wash your hands carefully. Record the date and location of the tick bite. If a rash appears or you experience flu-like symptoms over the next 30 days, contact your health care provider immediately. As of July 1, the New York State Health Department is no longer providing a tick identification service.
• If you consider using repellents be sure to follow label directions.  Do not allow children to apply repellents themselves.  Use only small amounts of repellent on children.looks like and how to remove it.

To learn more about Lyme disease, call the Tompkins County Health
Department at 274-6604 or visit the Department's website:

www.tompkins-co.org/health You'll see what a tick looks like
and how to remove it!