Tag: ticks

Central Shenandoah Health District Stresses Awareness of Ticks and Diseases They Can Transmit

August 12, 2025
Media Contact: Rachel Dumene, Rachel.dumene1@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-480-4998

Central Shenandoah Health District Stresses Awareness of Ticks and Diseases They Can Transmit

STAUNTON, Va. – The Central Shenandoah Health District is reaching out to remind residents of the dangers of ticks and the diseases they can carry.

Ticks are found across Virginia in all settings, from rural to urban, and can cause several diseases that can affect people. Ticks maybe tiny and hard to spot, but they can cause a number of serious medical problems, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Alpha-gal food allergy, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis.

“The best way to avoid these tickborne illnesses is to prevent being bitten by a tick in the first place,” says Dr. Allison Baroco, acting Health Director for CSHD. “Being well equipped with protective clothing and bug spray will help keep ticks off of your skin.”

Central Shenandoah Health District suggests several steps you can take to protect yourself from ticks when you’re outside.

Use an EPA-registered insect repellent.

  • When outdoors in tick habitats, use repellents containing either DEET, picaridin, IR 3535, 2-undecanone, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on your skin or clothing. It’s important to always follow the instructions on the product label.
    • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using products containing no more than 30% DEET on children.
    • Never use oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol on children under 3 years of age.
  • The repellent called “permethrin” can also be used to treat clothing ahead of time; it will last on clothing, socks, and shoes for several washes. When used properly, it will kill ticks before they bite.
  • Do not use any insect repellent on babies under 2 months of age.

When you’re outside in tick-infested areas, get into the habit of tucking your pants legs into your socks will help prevent ticks from climbing up your shoe and sock and onto your skin. Forcing ticks to climb up the outside of your clothing will help you spot and remove ticks before they can reach your upper body. If your shoes, socks and pants were treated with permethrin, any tick that comes into contact with the treated item usually die or become affected within a few minutes – before they can bite.

When you come inside after being in areas with potential ticks, take these steps to find them.

  • Check your clothing after spending time in tick habitats. Tumble dry clothing on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.
  • Use a mirror or ask a friend, partner, or spouse to help check your body for ticks. Pay close attention to the armpits, the groin area, in and around ears and your hairline, belly button, backs of your knees and between your legs. All are warm, moist areas that ticks are drawn to.
  • Also remember to check your children, your hiking gear, and pets for ticks, too.

If you find a tick on your body, remove it properly and promptly.

  • Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close as possible to the skin.
  • Pull upward, with steady even pressure, until the tick releases to avoid breaking the mouth parts of the tick or rupturing the tick’s body.
  • Avoid any method of removal that could crush, burn, or suffocate the tick.
  • After the tick is removed, clean the skin and the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and hot water.
  • Save the tick in a bag or container with rubbing alcohol for identification in case an illness develops in the days to weeks following a tick bite.

If you’ve been bitten by a tick in Virginia, you may send it to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) for identification and information about diseases associated with that type of tick. The Virginia Tick Survey is a free service of VDH.

For information on number of tick-related illnesses cases in Virginia, visit the Virginia Reportable Disease Surveillance Dashboard. Be safe and use common sense when outside in tick-infested areas.

RHHD Shares Tips for Preventing Tick-Related Illness

July 15, 2025
Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov  

RHHD Shares Tips for Preventing Tick-Related Illness 

 RICHMOND, Va. — The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) share tips for preventing tick-related illness.  

Ticks are arachnids, like scorpions, spiders, and mites. All ticks have four pairs of legs as adults and have no antennae. Ticks spread disease by attaching to a host and feeding on its blood. Ticks live in grassy, bushy, or wooded areas. Ticks are common in Virginia and can be active on warm days at all times of the year due to suburbanization, the abundance of deer in suburban forests, climate change, and land development. 

“Tick bites can cause a number of potentially serious illnesses,” said Richmond and Henrico Deputy Director Melissa Viray, M.D. “Knowing where ticks live and how to protect yourself and your family can keep outdoor adventures safe and fun this summer.” 

RHHD offers the following tips to help you stay safe from tick-related illness during the summer months. 

  • Prepare your clothing a few days before going outside in grassy, bushy, or wooded areas where ticks are common. 
  • Treat clothing ahead of time with permethrin. This treatment with will last on clothing, socks, and shoes for several months. Dried permethrin spray will remain active after several washes. Be sure to apply it to clothing a few days before use to allow for proper drying. Do not wear clothing that is still wet from permethrin spray. Ticks will die before they can bite you if they come in contact with permethrin-coated shoes, socks and pants. 
  • Tuck your pants into your socks, especially if you’re headed into a grassy or forested area. Forcing ticks to climb up the outside of your clothing will help you spot and remove ticks before they can reach your upper body. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent on your skin. If you’re adventuring with kids, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that their insect repellent contains no more than 30% DEET.  
  • When outdoors in forested tick habitats, use insect repellent containing either DEET, picaridin, IR 3535, 2-undecanone, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin or clothing. Always follow instructions on the product label. 
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol should never be used for children under three years of age. 
  • Do not use insect repellent on babies under two months old. 
  • Make tick checks a habit. Once you’re indoors, inspect your clothing and body for ticks. Make sure to inspect children’s clothing and bodies if they cannot do so themselves. Inspect gear and pets as well. Tumble dry clothing on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any remaining ticks. 
  • Use a mirror, friend, partner, or spouse to help check your body for ticks. Remember to check in armpits, groin area, in and around ears and hairline, belly button, backs of knees, and between legs. 
  • Remove ticks the right way. If you find a tick, use tweezers and grip the insect as close to your skin as possible. Pull directly up with steady, even pressure until the tick releases. Do not “squish” the tick. Clean the area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Save the tick in a bag or container with rubbing alcohol for identification in case an illness develops in the days to weeks following a tick bite. 
  • Identify the tick. Use the VDH tick identification chart to identify the tick that bit you. It can be helpful to identify any tick that bites you so that if you get sick, you and your care providers have more information.  
  • Submit a tick survey. Help VDH better understand our local tick population by saving the tick in a bag or container with rubbing alcohol and submit a tick survey and photo.  
  • Seek care. If you start feeling sick or develop symptoms like a rash or fever a few days or weeks after a tick bite, make sure to tell your medical provider that you were bitten by a tick.  

Tick bites are associated with a number of serious and potentially life-threatening medical problems, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Alpha-gal food allergy, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. For information on the number of tick-related illness cases in Virginia, visit the Virginia Reportable Disease Surveillance Dashboard. 

For more information about identifying ticks and protecting kids and pets, visit VDH’s “Don’t let the tick get you sick” webpage. 

For more health and safety information, follow RHHD on Instagram at @richmondcity_hd and on Facebook, visit rhhd.gov, and sign up for RHHD’s monthly newsletter at rhhd.gov/news. 

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Virginia Department of Health Shares Tips for Tick Safety

July 8, 2025
Media Contact: Kristy Fowler, Kristy.Fowler@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Health Shares Tips for Tick Safety
Stay safe this tick season with prevention and education.

CHESTERFIELD, Va. – Bites from ticks can be both irritating and harmful to your health. These arachnids can spread diseases that affect humans. Luckily, the Chesterfield Health District has several ways to protect yourself and prevent tick bites.

  • When outdoors, use insect repellent containing either DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus. Always follow instructions on the product label.
  • Blacklegged ticks and Lone Star ticks carry diseases in Virginia. They live in the forest leaf litter or in shaded, grassy areas. Ticks do not climb high on vegetation, so they must hitch a ride by first climbing up your shoes or socks. So, tuck your pants legs into your socks to help prevent ticks from climbing up your bare leg under your pants.
  • Check clothing after spending time in tick habitats. Tumble dry clothing on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.
  • Use a mirror, friend, partner, or spouse to help check your body for ticks. Remember to check in armpits, groin area, ears, hairline, belly button, knees, and legs.

Remember to inspect children, gear, and pets for ticks as well.

“We walked down to the river and wandered off the trail to find a good fishing spot,” Springfield-resident Kelly Smith said. “Once we got back to the house, my son felt a tick crawling on his back and told me. I sealed it in a plastic bag. Then I visited the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website for more information.” Smith was visiting family in Chesterfield County.

Ticks are tiny and hard to spot, but they can cause serious medical problems. Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, and Alpha-gal come from ticks.

The VDH website lists tick prevention, removal, an identification chart, and disease information. You can also submit a tick or a photo of one for tracking purposes.

Luckily, the tick did not bite the boy. Bookmark this valuable tick resource for when you need it. Visit ChesterfieldVa.health for more information.

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RHHD Offers Safety Tips About Ticks

July 24, 2024
Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, RHHDpr@vdh.virginia.gov, (804) 807-1727

RHHD Offers Safety Tips About Ticks

RICHMOND, VA — The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) offer safety tips to help the public increase its awareness of ticks and the potential for tick-related illness.

“Tick bites can lead to a number of potentially serious illnesses,” said Richmond and Henrico Deputy Director Melissa Viray, MD. “It’s important to take a few key steps to protect yourself and your family.”

RHHD offers the following guidelines to help the public stay safe from tick-related illness during the summer months.

  • Prepare for ticks before you go outside. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent and tuck your pants into your socks, especially if you’re headed into a grassy or forested area. If you’re adventuring with kids, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that their insect repellent has less than 30% DEET.
  • Make tick checks a habit. Once you’re indoors, inspect your clothing and body for ticks. Make sure you’ve checked in areas where a tick could hide easily, like your hair, behind or in your ears, under your arms, and in your belly button.
  • Remove ticks the right way. If you find a tick, use tweezers and grip the insect as close to your skin as possible. Pull directly up with steady, even pressure until the tick releases. Do not “squish” the tick. Clean the area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
  • Identify the tick. It can be helpful to identify any tick that bites you so that if you get sick, you and your care providers have more information. Use the VDH tick identification chart to identify the tick. You can save the tick in a bag or container with rubbing alcohol or submit a tick survey and photo to VDH.
  • Seek care. If you start feeling sick or develop symptoms like a rash or fever a few days or weeks after a tick bite, make sure to tell your medical provider that you were bitten by a tick.

Tick bites are associated with a number of serious and potentially life-threatening medical problems, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Alpha-gal food allergy, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis.

For more information about identifying ticks and protecting kids and pets, visit VDH’s “Don’t let the tick get you sick” webpage.

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Tickborne Illnesses on the Rise

July 31, 2023
Media Contact: Julie Thacker, Julie.Thacker@vdh.virginia.gov

Tickborne Illnesses on the Rise
Crater Health District Advises Public to Use Precautions this Summer to Guard Against Ticks

PETERSBURG, Va. — There are several tickborne illnesses that can affect the health of the population. Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), and Tularemia are a few of the tickborne illnesses that different ticks may carry in the state of Virginia.

Crater Health District urges the public to take precautionary steps to prevent tick bites:

  • Always use insect repellant when outdoors in the summer months, especially if in habitats ticks frequent such as forested areas and places with long grass.
  • Repellant containing up to 50% DEET for adults or less than 30% DEET for children is recommended. Repellants containing other active ingredients such as bioUID, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, picaridin, or 2-undecanone may also be effective.
  • Wear long pants and shoes with socks and tuck pant legs into socks or boots. Tuck in shirts and wear light-colored clothing so that ticks are visible.
  • Conduct thorough tick checks and shower with soap after you have been outdoors. It is important to do this as soon as possible; the likelihood of transmission of tickborne diseases increases the longer the tick is attached to the skin.

If you have been bitten by a tick, safely remove the tick using the steps provided in the  VDH resource “Ticks and Tickborne Diseases.” VDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not routinely test ticks for pathogens; instead, it is important to identify the tick species since each tick species carries different pathogens. The VDH Vectorborne Team provides tick identification services for citizens in Virginia.

If you experience symptoms after being exposed to a tick, seek medical attention. If possible, take the tick or the ID provided from the Virginia Tick Survey to help your provider determine the diagnosis and the best course of treatment.

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