With summer approaching, the St. Clair County Health Department alerts residents that ticks are currently active in St. Clair County and across Michigan.
From May to September, the department monitors tick populations to detect changes and migration. Preventative actions can reduce the risk of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is spread by blacklegged ticks, which are increasingly present in Michigan. Environmental Health Sanitarian Alicia Hawkins says, “Vector surveillance efforts indicate that blacklegged ticks carrying the Lyme disease bacteria are present in St. Clair County.”
Ticks often attach to hard-to-see areas of the body and must be attached for 36-48 hours to transmit Lyme disease. Full-body checks and proper removal techniques are essential.
Residents can email photos of ticks to Vector@stclaircounty.org for identification. Also, for more information, visit: michigan.gov.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
