Something New To Be Wary Of – Leaf Piles!

Thinking about encouraging your kids to go out and play in the leaves? Local health officials suggest that you think again.

According to Health District Director Mark Cooper, October is tick breeding season. In recent weeks, his department has seen an increase in the number of ticks, which seem to thrive in leaf litter and leaf piles.

“We are advising people not to jump in the leaf piles,” Mr Cooper said.

Those who do are advised to do a careful tick check of their body and clothing.

Cases of Lyme Disease continue to be on the rise. Last summer, nearly a quarter of all deer ticks tested in Newtown carried Lyme Disease. The disease has become something of an epidemic in this area, according to members of the Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force, who fear that a lack of understanding and knowledge has served to heighten the problem.

One big problem is that many tick bite victims do not show symptoms until long after they are bitten. Also, doctors tend to disagree on how to treat the disease. In addition, Lyme Disease, discovered in 1975, is difficult to diagnose and there are several points of view on how long it takes patients to be cured.

Connecticut has the highest incidence of Lyme Disease in the country. Those who are bitten by ticks can take the tick to the town’s health district at Canaan House at Fairfield Hills for testing. For more information, call the town’s health district at 270-4291.