FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — As tick season is well underway in Fort Leonard Wood, medical professionals at the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital are urging the community to protect themselves from tick-borne diseases by avoiding contact with the parasites.
According to GLWACH Environmental Health officials, there are four types of ticks they usually find during tick drags — the American Dog tick, Blacklegged Deer tick, Brown Dog tick and Lone Star tick — and there are four diseases that can be found in some of this population, including Alpha-gal syndrome, Lyme disease, tularemia — also known as rabbit fever — and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Tick dragging is a method used to collect ticks to determine if an area needs to be sprayed with pesticides prior to service members training there.
According to the Missouri Department of Health, ticks in the United States are responsible for more human disease than any other insect, and as of June 28 of this year, there have been 179 cases of ehrlichiosis, two Rocky Mountain spotted fever, one tularemia and 17 Lyme disease infections documented in Missouri.
Tick-borne diseases are also known as zoonotic diseases, meaning they can be transmitted between animals and humans, according to the Missouri Department of Health. Ticks are effective transmitters of disease because most ticks take blood from a large variety of small and large mammals, reptiles and birds.
The most basic precautions, according to officials, include avoiding contact with wild animals, staying out of tall grass and using DEET (chemical name, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) repellent.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, DEET works by “making it hard for biting bugs to smell us.”
In the event a tick bite does occur, GLWACH Environmental Health said one of the most important things to remember is to remove it properly.
“Using small forceps, grasp as close to the skin as possible and lift straight up. Do not try to burn the tick, apply petroleum jelly or spray with repellent. Wash the bite area with soap and water. Then, bring the tick to Bldg. 2222 if you want it to be analyzed.”
Anyone with access to post can take their ticks to the Public Health office in Bldg. 2222.
GLWACH Environmental Health officials urge patients to watch for signs and symptoms of tick-borne illness and engage with a primary care manager if any of the following are observed: sudden high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a bullseye shaped rash, general rash at the bite location or pus-filled wound.
For individuals with tick related questions or units wanting to request a tick drag, the best way to reach out to GLWACH Environmental Health on Fort Leonard Wood is through their website.
The Missouri Department of Health has a tick awareness toolkit with more information on preventing tick bites, tick-borne diseases and repellents.
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