Tick-Borne Illnesses: Info Session At Berkeley Library

BERKELEY, NJ — The Ocean County Library's Berkeley Branch will hold a program on tick-borne illnesses. The info session takes place from 2-2:45 p.m. July 9.

The program will educate adults on aspects of tick-borne illnesses such as prevention, signs and symptoms, testing, and treatment. The most common ones found in New Jersey are Lyme Disease, Babesiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, according to the program.

The Ocean County Health Department is presenting the info session.

In 2017, New Jersey had 5,092 reported cases of Lyme Disease, the highest yearly total in nearly two decades, according to the NJ Department of Health. Ocean County recorded 302 cases that year.

The NJ Department of Health says you can do the following to prevent Lyme Disease:

• Avoid wooded areas with dense shrubs and leaf litter, where ticks like to hide.
• Make your yard less attractive to ticks by mowing lawns and trimming trees.
• Wear solid, light-colored clothing. This will make it easier to find a tick on your clothes.
• Tuck your pants into your socks and wear a long-sleeved shirt. This will help prevent a tick from attaching to your skin.

• Use insect repellents on yourself and your pets. There are two types of repellents effective for ticks. Repellents that contain DEET can be used on clothing and exposed skin. The other type of repellent contains permethrin and should ONLY be used on clothing. Always read and follow label directions carefully.

• Check yourself for ticks frequently when you are in tick-infested areas. Check again after returning and again before going to bed. Don’t overlook some of ticks’ favorite hiding places: on the scalp, behind the ears, under the arms, on the ankles, and in the groin.

Click here to sign up for the program.

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