Special to Iredell Free News
RALEIGH — As the weather continues to warm up, state health officials urge North Carolinians to “Fight the Bite” by taking measures to reduce their risk of tick- and mosquito-borne infections.
According to preliminary data generated by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, in 2020 there were 957 confirmed, probable or suspected cases of tick-borne diseases in North Carolina and 46 cases of domestically acquired and travel-associated mosquito-borne diseases.
“Ticks and mosquitoes are common in our state and can carry bacteria and viruses that can cause serious infections,” said Alexis M. Barbarin, state public Health entomologist. “While COVID-19 is still at the forefront of our minds, residents of North Carolina who experience a fever-like illness this summer should also consider recent tick exposure and the possibility of tick- or mosquito-borne illnesses. The best way to prevent illnesses associated with ticks and mosquitoes is to take protective measures, like using DEET and other insect repellents and avoiding wooded, grassy or brushy areas.”
Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis (SFR), Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis — bacterial illnesses that can cause fever, headache and other flu-like symptoms — are all conditions that can be acquired by tick bites in North Carolina, with most cases reported in June through September.
More than 60 percent of mosquito-borne infections reported in the state in 2020 were acquired during travel outside the continental United States. The most commonly reported mosquito-borne illnesses that can be acquired in North Carolina are La Crosse, West Nile and Eastern equine encephalitis.
To reduce exposure to tick bites:
♦ Avoid tick habitats, such as wooded, grassy or brushy areas.
♦ Use tick repellent that contains DEET (or other EPA approved repellants) on exposed skin and wear permethrin-treated clothing. Use caution when applying to children.
♦ Reduce tick habitats with selective landscaping techniques.
♦ A tick can be removed by grasping it with fine-tipped tweezers as close as possible to the skin and applying a steady, gentle pull until it releases.
To reduce exposure to mosquito bites:
♦ Use mosquito repellent that contains DEET (or equivalent) when outside. Use caution when applying to children.
Install or repair screens on windows and doors and use air conditioning when possible.
♦ “Tip and Toss” to reduce mosquito breeding by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and birdbaths at least once a week.
♦ Travelers should take special care to prevent mosquito bites when traveling. Information on the prevention of malaria while traveling can be found at www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/index.html.
"Wakili wa afya wa jimbo hilo, Dkt. R. J. R. R. Wright, aliwaambia wakazi wa North Carolina ""kupigana na kuumwa"" kwa kuchukua hatua za kupunguza hatari ya maambukizi yanayopitishwa na mbu na mbu." Kulingana na takwimu za awali zilizotolewa na Idara ya Afya na Huduma za Binadamu ya Idara ya Afya ya Umma, mnamo 2020 kulikuwa na visa 957 vilivyothibitishwa, vinavyowezekana au vinavyodhaniwa vya magonjwa yanayopitishwa na mbu huko North Carolina na visa 46 vya magonjwa yanayopitishwa na mbu yanayohusiana na kusafiri. "Vipepeo na mbu ni wa kawaida katika jimbo letu na wanaweza kubeba bakteria na virusi vinavyoweza kusababisha maambukizo mabaya", alisema Alexis M. Barbarin, mtaalamu wa wadudu wa afya ya umma wa jimbo hilo. "Wakati COVID-19 bado iko mbele ya akili zetu, wakazi wa North Carolina ambao wanakabiliwa na ugonjwa unaofanana na homa majira ya joto ya mwaka huu wanapaswa pia kuzingatia mfiduo wa hivi karibuni wa kutu na uwezekano wa magonjwa yanayopitishwa na kutu au mbu. """ Njia bora ya kuzuia magonjwa yanayohusiana na mbu na mbu ni kuchukua hatua za kinga, kama kutumia DEET na dawa nyingine za kuua wadudu na kuepuka maeneo yenye miti, nyasi au vichaka. <unk> Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis (SFR), ugonjwa wa Lyme na ehrlichiosis <unk> magonjwa ya bakteria ambayo yanaweza kusababisha homa, maumivu ya kichwa na dalili nyingine kama za mafua <unk> ni hali zote ambazo zinaweza kupatikana kwa kuumwa na mbu katika North Carolina, na kesi nyingi zimeripotiwa mnamo Juni hadi Septemba. Zaidi ya asilimia 60 ya maambukizi yanayopitishwa na mbu yaliyoripotiwa katika jimbo hilo mnamo 2020 yalipatikana wakati wa kusafiri nje ya bara la Marekani. Ugonjwa unaosababishwa na mbu unaosababishwa na mbu katika jimbo la North Carolina ni LaCrosse, West Nile na Eastern equine encephalitis. Ili kupunguza kuambukizwa na kuumwa na chungu: • Epuka maeneo ya chungu, kama vile misitu, nyasi au maeneo yenye vichaka. Tumia dawa ya kuua kuvu ambayo ina DEET (au dawa nyingine iliyokubaliwa na EPA) kwenye ngozi iliyo wazi na kuvaa nguo zilizotengenezwa na permethrin. Uwe mwangalifu unapotumia dawa hiyo kwa watoto. ♦ Kupunguza makazi ya tick na mbinu za kuchagua landscaping. Tick inaweza kuondolewa kwa kuishika kwa tweezers ndogo-nzuri karibu na ngozi na kutumia kuvuta kwa utulivu, upole mpaka inaachiliwa. Ili kupunguza uwezekano wa kuumwa na mbu: Tumia dawa ya kuua mbu yenye DEET (au sawa) wakati wa nje. Uwe mwangalifu unapotumia dawa hiyo kwa watoto. Weka au kurekebisha skrini kwenye madirisha na milango na tumia kiyoyozi ikiwezekana. • Kupunguza uzazi wa mbu kwa kuondoa maji kutoka kwa sufuria za maua, mitaro, ndoo, vifuniko vya dimbwi, vyombo vya maji ya wanyama, tairi zilizotupwa na bafu za ndege angalau mara moja kwa wiki. • Wasafiri wanapaswa kuwa makini hasa ili kuepuka kuumwa na mbu wanapokuwa wakisafiri. Habari kuhusu jinsi ya kuzuia malaria wakati wa kusafiri inaweza kupatikana katika www.cdc.gov.uk malaria-travelers-index.html.