Did you know, this Thursday, April 22nd is Earth Day?
Get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. But don't forget your sunscreen and your insect repellent!
Medline Plus refers you to the EPA to learn more about safe, effective insect repellents to ward off tick and mosquito bites:
You can also learn more about applying insect repellent safely with this Minnesota Department of Health video:
Typical “early” signs are:
Symptoms of untreated or long-term Lyme disease include:
Post by C. Fisher
The Ixodes Outreach Project has been given grant money to conduct outreach programming. This spring we offered Minnesota and Wisconsin high schools the opportunity to receive a virtual presentation on Lyme disease, managing tick bite risk, and information on how they can contribute to our research.
We received a lot of great questions as a result of these talks, so the head of our lab said, "Hey maybe we should answer these questions on the blog."
So, we are launching this new "feature." Each week we will post a question from a high school student with the answer until we run out.
If anyone out there has other questions, please send them in! We can always adapt and make it a The Community Wants to Know feature.
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The percentage of ticks carrying the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease varies, but typically about 30-50% of ticks in Minnesota are expected to be carrying the bacteria.
The odds of getting Lyme disease is affected by the length of time a tick is attached during feeding. Even if the tick has the bacteria in it's system, if it is removed right away the odds of catching Lyme disease is lessened. According to the CDC, "In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted." Read more from the CDC here.
Post by C. Fisher
If you are in Carlton County, Minnesota, be advised, the ticks are out!
Two were found on a dog Sunday, April 21st near Cromwell, and an individual in Carlton reported finding ticks last week as well!
If you find a tick and would like to submit it to the Ixodes Outreach Project to use in our research you can write us to request a free tick kit. Kits come with a tick ID card, a tick removal key, and specimen submission materials. Send your request by email to us at:
ixodesoutreach@gmail.com.
Or simply place the tick in a Ziploc-style baggie and mail it to us via USPS at:
The Ixodes Outreach Project at the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth is offering a FREE 40 to 50-minute Zoom presentation for students (grades 6-12).
The presentation will cover:
The number of presentations we are able to give is limited, so sign up your class today:
https://z.umn.edu/IOP_2021_SchoolOutreachProgram
More information on available dates and times for presentations are available at the above link. Additional questions can be forwarded to us at:
ixodesoutreach@gmail.com
We look forward to working with you and your students!
As the
temperatures rise and the snow melts, we are entering tick season and
approaching Earth Day (April 22nd). We here at the Ixodes Outreach Project feel this is a great time to
engage our community members in timely distribution of science and public health
related material and to prepare to get out and celebrate Earth Day!
Please join us for our FREE 45 to 50-minute Zoom presentation.
