News Release

If you grew up in a Chatham part of the world, ticks and chiggers are just some of the creatures with whom we share our great outdoors. You have probably tried sulfur or nail polish or some other home remedy. And you've probably either found one that you swear by or found that none of them is much better than, well, none at all. You may even have found that the critters don't bother you as much as they used to.

Folks who didn't grow up in our Chatham corner of heaven, often do not appreciate these seemingly unheavenly creatures. Many folks find Chatham County a just- about-perfect place to settle except for a few inconveniences. If we can just get a few kinks worked out, then it will once again be safe to go to the park, the woods, or even the backyard.

If we haven't eliminated ticks and chiggers by now, it's not for want of trying. Over time, the natives have found it's not a very rewarding pursuit. For a long time these little beasties were little more than a nuisance. Now, however, with names like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease, ticks at least are a bit more threatening.

What can you do to reduce your risk?

• In woods and parks, stay on wide paths and roads when possible. A void brushing against vegetation.
• When practical, layer your clothing; tuck pants into socks, shirttail into pants.
• Wear light colored clothing to make ticks easier to see.
• Use commercial insect repellents on exposed areas (see cautions below).
• Before stretching out for lunch on the ground, drag a piece of white fabric over the grass and shrubs to inspect for ticks
• When in tick infested areas, examine your clothes and body at least twice a day. Frequent examination reduces the opportunity for a tick to attach itself. And a tick must be attached for at least six hours to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

What can you do to help control ticks and chiggers on job sites?

• Maintain close mowing to discourage small animal hosts of ticks. (But don't mow fescue closer than 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches.)
• Remove leaf litter around areas frequented by people such as around picnic tables.
• Severe infestations can be reduced (probably not eliminated) with application of insecticides. The ground cover and vegetation should be thoroughly wetted to the ground. Keep pets and children away until the product dries. (Remember that it is a violation to use any product in a manner inconsistent with the label; make sure that the site you treat is listed on the label. And unless you are licensed for structural pests, don't treat structures.)

Once a tick has attached itself to you, there's no need for alarm. It happens eventually to most folks who work out of doors. There are some steps you need to take to minimize risk. First step is to not listen to all the home remedies (gasoline, petroleum jelly, hot matches,...) from us good ol' southern boys.

• Use tweezers or a folded tissue paper to reduce the possible spread of disease organisms that can penetrate even microscopic pores in the skin. Grasp the body of the tick and pull firmly without twisting or jerking. Pull straight away until the tick is pulled free.
• If the tick's mouthparts break off, remove them with a sterilized needle as you would a splinter.
• Preserve the tick in alcohol for later identification if necessary.
• Wash the area with soap and water followed with an antiseptic such as alcohol.
• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Note the date of the tick bite on your calendar. If symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease develop, your doctor may want to know the date of the bite.

What about chiggers? Chances are good that if you get a chigger bite, you'll get more than one. Chiggers hatch from eggs and don't move very far. So if you stop to eat lunch and sit near one, you're probably also near all his friends and relatives that are just as hungry as you are.

Chigger bites would mainly be a nuisance if there were only one or two. If there are one or two dozen, it's serious scratching time. Don't scratch. I know you're going to scratch anyway, but keep it to a minimum. Scratching can lead to infections that will be far worse than the bite.

How can you avoid chiggers?
Look back up at the list for avoiding ticks; the chigger list is similar. Try to avoid places with lots of thick vegetation. If you have been in the woods, try to get a hot bath or shower within an hour or two. Use a soapy washcloth to scrub well. Scrubbing them off may prevent them getting a meal or at least interrupt them.

Cautions for use of personal repellents.
N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) is generally recognized as the most effective active ingredient in insect repellents. Several hours of protection may be obtained if the product is not washed off by rain or sweat. Users should exercise cautions.

• A general "rule of thumb" is that a formulation (lotion or spray) containing 10-35% DEET should give good protection.
• Apply the product only to exposed skin and clothing that insects can bite through. Do not apply under clothing; absorption into the skin is increased.
• Avoid repeat applications of products containing more than 50% DEET,
• Cautions with CHILDREN: Do not use products containing more than 10% DEET; use sparingly on children under 6 years and do not use on children under 2 years. Apply it yourself, and do not allow children to handle it. Do not put it on their hands because hands will invariably get to the mouth and eyes.
• Keep repellents out of the eyes. Apply it to the hands then carefully apply to face.
• After you return indoors, wash treated areas with soap and water, especially if you apply DEET product on consecutive days, and wash treated clothing before wearing it again.
• If you suspect a reaction to the product in yourself or your child, discontinue use, wash with soap and water, and call a poison control center (in NC 1-800-848-6946, nationwide 1-800-222-1222) or see your doctor. If you call, have the repellent container handy for label information; if you go to the doctor, take the container with you.

Many individuals prefer more natural or systemic products. Among these are Vitamin B1 (thiamine chloride), garlic, brewer's yeast and other plant-based chemicals; plants such as Citrosa that may contain many of the same chemicals found in oil of citronella; or electronic pest repellers. To date, the results of several scientific studies do not support the claims that these materials are effective.