'Tick Talk': Huntington Library Hosts Informational On Lyme Bug

HUNTINGTON, NY — The main branch of the Huntington Public Library served as one of the first venues for a new "tick-talk" initiative by the Suffolk County health department.

Health officials seek to supply local communities with more information on tick safety, and the effort got under way Thursday in Huntington.

For the rest of the summer, health department staff will hold informational presentations at 10 local libraries in the Suffolk County area to better help curb tick bites. Participants can expect to learn about the ticks most common in the area, as well as the possible diseases caused by the insect, prevention methods and proper tick removal techniques, Riverhead Local reported.

In 2017 alone, Suffolk County reported 523 cases of Lyme Disease, the most common of the tick- borne disease.

As with any health problem, prevention should be the first line of defense.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends treating clothing, shoes and camping gear with permethrin. You can apply a bug repellent that’s registered by the Environmental Protection Agency and should avoid wooded or bushy areas with high grass and leaves.

Moreover, you should always check clothing and animals when going back indoors, and shower soon thereafter. Ticks are known to be found under the arms, in and around ears, in the belly button, groin area, back of the knees and even around the hair.

For those who missed the "tick-talk" Thursday, the library will host another informational meeting July 18. That meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at its Station Branch location.