Sudbury Officials Remind: 'The Ticks Can Make You Sick'

SUDBURY, MA—It's the time of the year to be vigilant about tick-borne illness disease prevention. Sudbury officials are warning residents to protect yourself, your family, and pets by taking a few precautions while enjoying the outdoors.

"Remember, you don’t have to be walking in the woods to be bitten by a tick it can happen in your own backyard."

Paul Mazzuchelli, a Board of Health member in Milford, recently sent out a similar reminder to town residents, writing, "Spring has arrived, and with the warmer weather comes the emergence of ticks, which can carry a variety of diseases. Ticks are excellent vectors for disease transmission. They are second only to mosquitoes as vectors of human disease, both infectious and toxic. Every year we see more ticks spreading more diseases, many of which are difficult to diagnose and treat."

Some reminders from Sudbury officials:

• Check yourself for ticks daily. It may take up to 24 hours for an infected tick to spread disease.
• Use repellents that contain DEET on exposed skin.
• Stick to main paths that are brush and tall grass free.
• Wear long sleeve and light colored clothing, tuck socks into pants to make it easier to spot ticks.
• Remove ticks attached at once.

If you suspect you have a tick-borne disease consult your physician immediately. For more information go to www.mass.gov/dph/tick.