TRAVERSE CITY — With temperatures warming up, ticks are on the move and looking for a meal.
More sun and longer days mean some are eager to get out and enjoy the spring weather.
Ticks lurk almost everywhere, especially in tall grass and bushy areas.
They’re known to carry viruses, bacteria and parasites, leading to illnesses like Lyme Disease.
“If Lyme Disease is caught early, you just have the rash and not a lot of other symptoms. But if it’s not caught right away or if the rash isn’t as pronounced, sometimes people will get fever and chills and body aches and even joint aches. Some people even get some joint swelling, so if you have symptoms like that, it’s worth checking in with your health care provider just to be sure,” said Dr. Joe Santangelo, MD, Munson Healthcare
A good way to prevent ticks from latching on is to wear long sleeves and pants while outside and use a spray repellent containing deet.
You should also give yourself a good look over when you return to remove any hitchhikers.