Anonymous Contributor
Charlottesville, if you have not yet realized, is hardly a concrete jungle. A charming little town nestled in the midst of forests and mountains, nature is always lurking around the corner. And so are ticks, as one unfortunate law student recently discovered after being diagnosed with Lyme disease.[1] Below are some tips to protect yourself from ticks and tick-borne illnesses, taken from the CDC[2] and the Virginia Department of Health.[3]
Ticks are closer than you think.
You do not have to be an avid hiker to be in tick territory. Forests, fields, and the like are all within easy walking distance of law classrooms.[4] Take extra care around forested and shady areas, tall grass, and leaf litter. Stay in the center of trails when possible.
Ticks can be very small, so check closely.
Ticks the size of pinheads are some of the most likely to transmit disease.[5] Be sure to conduct thorough checks after being in tick habitats, including checks of the back of the knees, neck and hair, armpits, and other body creases and hard-to-see areas.
Wear appropriate clothing and bug spray when in tick habitats.
When in tick habitats, wear bug spray containing DEET or picaridin, and/or clothing treated with permethrin. Also consider wearing long pants tucked into socks. Note that ticks will be more visible on light-colored clothing. Ideally, shower and change promptly after getting back from your outdoor adventures and keep your hiking clothes quarantined after changing until you can run them through the washer and dryer.
Many tick-borne illnesses can be prevented by prompt removal.
Finally, some good news! With some exceptions, many tick-borne illnesses require an estimated 24-hours or more of the tick being attached to transmit.[6] So, don’t freak out too much if you find a tick. The CDC and Virginia Department of Health recommend removing the tick by grasping it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and slowly pulling upward with gentle pressure until the tick lets go. Wash and disinfect the area afterwards. Dispose of ticks by placing them in alcohol, flushing them down the toilet, wrapping them in tape, or placing them in a sealed bag.
Communicate with your doctor.
If you do get sick, let your doctor know if you have or may have been bitten by a tick in the last month or so. Be sure to report any rashes or abnormal bug bites, but be aware that not everyone with a tick-borne illness gets (or finds) a distinctive rash. Many common tick-borne illnesses can be easily treated, but the earlier the better to avoid long-term side effects.
[1] The student has since recovered after a round of antibiotics.
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html
[3] For a handy summary of ticks and tick-borne illnesses in Virginia see the following flier by the Virginia Department of Health: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/90/2020/10/Ticks-and-Tick-borne-Diseases-in-Virginia-Flyer.pdf
[4] Ticks, similarly to the deer and rabbits the author has seen around, do not respect the boundaries of UVA property or city limits.
[5] As illustrated in the flier linked in footnote 3, supra.
[6] Again, see the flier linked in footnote 3 for more details. (It has a lot of great info in a short amount of space!)