Daily Herald opinion: Tick prevention and awareness needs to be a priority in our communities to keep everyone safe

Warm weather is finally here, and we’re ready to open the windows and spend time outside. But as we head outdoors, are we ready for ticks? Probably not.

Communities can and should work together to help us all be aware and educated about these tiny parasites that are more than just a nuisance. Ticks can transmit serious illnesses like Lyme disease, so protecting our health is of the utmost importance.

Ticks thrive in wooded, brushy or grassy areas — precisely the kind of environments many of us enjoy during the summer months. But encountering a tick doesn’t require a hike through a forest; simply walking your dog or gardening in your yard can expose you to tick bites. And tick populations are expanding in the suburbs, driven in part by warmer winters.

May is National Lyme disease Awareness Month, making it the perfect time for communities to ramp up efforts around tick education and prevention. The Illinois Department of Public Health urges the public to learn how to protect themselves from ticks and Lyme disease.

“Lyme disease is a serious bacterial infection transmitted through the bite of infected ticks,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States affecting more than 500,000 people nationally each year. As the summer approaches, I encourage our residents to learn to ‘Fight the Bite’ and protect yourself and your loved ones from tick-borne illnesses. If you’ve been in wooded or high grassy areas and are experiencing symptoms — fever, fatigue, headache and a circular rash — see your healthcare provider immediately.”

While learning about ticks and the health issues they can cause is everyone’s responsibility, communities, schools and local governments can help by prioritizing awareness campaigns. Clear signage in parks and trails about how to avoid tick bites, information on repellents and protective clothing, along with public messages on the importance of early detection and removal would all be effective.

And we can all help by keeping our yards trimmed and clean. Pet owners should consult veterinarians about tick prevention treatments, as pets can easily bring ticks indoors. Ticks will typically attach themselves to your body after biting, so we should also get in the habit of checking ourselves, our kids and our pets for ticks after spending time outside. Finding a tick early and removing it within 36 hours is key to reducing the risk of infection.

Tick prevention and awareness is crucial during the warmer months but necessary year round. With cooperation and education from parks, forest preserves and local government, along with our own vigilance, we can help prevent tick-borne diseases from becoming common and keep the pesky parasite at bay.