Health department issues summer tick-prevention advisory

A health department public service announcement advised people heading outdoors this summer to take precautions against ticks, which can transmit illnesses including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The speaker recommended wearing long sleeves and long pants, using a DEET-containing repellent on skin and permethrin on clothing and gear, and staying in the middle of trails to avoid grass and leaf litter where ticks live.

The presenter urged viewers to perform thorough tick checks after being outside, paying special attention to small spaces such as armpits and the groin, and to check pets for ticks by combing through their fur. The announcement also recommended that pet owners treat animals with appropriate tick-and-flea medication. The segment closed by noting that taking these precautions "will make sure the only thing biting are the fish."