Health District Urges Residents

To Take Precautions This Summer

Summer is almost here, and the Newtown Health District wants readers to be on the lookout for a few hazards and take some simple precautions for a safer, healthier summer.

Ticks! It is nymph season and these insects are smaller than ever, barely visible to the naked eye. This lifecycle stage of the tick may be the more likely time for transmission of Lyme disease, so it is more important than ever to be on the lookout for bites.

Almost half of the deer ticks sent from the health district to the state for testing this spring have been positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. So far, 188 ticks have been submitted for testing, 90 have been analyzed, two of them were not testable, 19 of them were dog ticks.

“Please do a tick check every day, on yourself, your children, your pets,” said Health District Director Donna McCarthy. “Remove the tick properly, with tweezers, at the place of attachment, as close to the skin as possible and gently pull straight out. As always, please protect yourself, tick-proof your yard and be on the lookout. There is a lot of information available to protect yourself and your surroundings. Check the web at www.caes.state.ct.us and/or call the Health District.”

Mosquitoes are another health hazard, with the potential of transmitting West Nile Virus and other diseases. Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds such as standing water, clogged gutters, and containers with stagnant water.

“Look around your property, there are more water collecting areas and containers than you may think,” Ms McCarthy said. “Protect yourself to minimize your exposure to mosquito bites – use repellent, wear long sleeves, pants and socks, minimize exposure during dawn and dusk hours when mosquitoes are most active.”

Wild animals are another hazard.

 “And I don’t mean black bears ––although you should look out for them too!” Ms McCarthy said. “Please do not interact with wild animals, like raccoons, possums, woodchucks, others and stray animals. They can carry diseases, especially rabies. Do not let your children play with or even touch wild animals. Please don’t feed the wild animals. And keep your pets vaccinations current. A potential exposure to the rabies virus can be emotional, expensive, and possibly fatal. If you see a wild animal acting strangely or sickly, call the Animal Control Officer. Be on the lookout and steer clear of the critters.”

Dead birds also pose a risk.

 If a dead bird is seen, call the Health District office to report it, at 270-4291. District staff will ask some questions to determine if it should be collected for testing for West Nile Virus.

“Regardless of whether it is testable, it is important that dead birds be reported to the Health District,” Ms McCarthy said. “We keep a written log of the birds and locations and we report to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. If it is an eligible specimen, it will be collected. Part of its eligibility will be that it not be damaged or appear to have died from an obvious cause. It needs to be fresh, dead less than 24 hours with its head and eyes intact. And specific species are more prone to West Nile Virus and are more desirable for testing. Call the Health District if you spot a dead bird.”

The Health District encourages everyone to have fun this summer but use common sense. And do not forget the sunscreen.