Who Is Most at Risk?
Anyone bitten by an infected tick can become infected.
However, risk increases for people who:
- Spend significant time outdoors
- Work in forestry or landscaping
- Hunt or fish regularly
- Camp frequently
- Garden in wooded areas
- Own property near forests
- Walk dogs in tick habitats
Older adults and people with weakened immune systems may be at greater risk of severe illness, although serious infections can occur at any age.
How to Prevent Tick Bites
The good news is that most tick bites can be prevented by taking a few practical precautions.
1. Wear Protective Clothing
Choose long-sleeved shirts and long pants when walking through wooded or grassy areas.
Tuck pant legs into socks whenever possible.
Light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks before they attach.
2. Use EPA-Registered Insect Repellent
Apply insect repellents containing ingredients such as:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (where appropriate)
Always follow the product label, especially when using repellents on children.
3. Treat Clothing and Gear
Permethrin-treated clothing provides an additional layer of protection.
You can purchase pre-treated clothing or apply permethrin products designed specifically for outdoor gear.
Never apply permethrin directly to the skin.
4. Stay on Cleared Trails
When hiking, remain in the center of established trails.
Avoid brushing against tall grass and dense vegetation where ticks often wait for passing hosts.
5. Perform Tick Checks
After spending time outdoors:
- Check your entire body carefully.
- Examine behind the knees.
- Look under the arms.
- Inspect around the ears.
- Check the scalp.
- Examine the waistline.
- Don’t forget between the legs.
Parents should carefully inspect children after outdoor activities.
Pets should also be checked since they can carry ticks indoors.
6. Shower Soon After Coming Indoors
Taking a shower within two hours of returning indoors may help remove unattached ticks and provides an excellent opportunity for a thorough body check.
7. Dry Clothes on High Heat
Place outdoor clothing in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes before washing, or longer if the clothes are damp. Heat is more effective than washing alone at killing ticks.
