SPOKANE, Wash. — With warm weather encouraging more people to head out on local trails, Spokane Regional Health District officials are reminding residents to take precautions against ticks, which are becoming more active this time of year.
While there haven’t been any recent upticks in tick-related reports to the health district, officials say that doesn’t necessarily mean the risk is low.
Tick exposure can lead to various health concerns. While Lyme disease is a well-known risk, Phillips notes that the black-legged tick species that typically transmits Lyme disease is not common east of the Cascades. Instead, ticks found in Eastern Washington are more often associated with illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever or, in rare cases, tick-borne relapsing fever, typically in mountainous cabin areas.
Pets can also carry ticks indoors. Phillips advised pet owners to check animals thoroughly after outdoor activity, especially around the head, ears, and neck. Ticks can drop off and latch onto humans later.
To reduce exposure, health officials recommend hikers:
Stay on clear, well-maintained trails and avoid tall grass or brushWear light-colored, tightly woven clothing to spot ticks easilyTuck pants into socks and consider long sleevesUse EPA-approved repellents like DEET or permethrin-treated clothingShower promptly and do a full-body tick check after outdoor activities
“But what we do recommend to people is that… if you’ve been bitten by a tick and develop symptoms like a fever, flu-like symptoms, or especially a rash, let your doctor know so they can consider a tick-borne illness,” Sandra Phillips a Environmental Health Specialist and Local Source Control Specialist at Spokane Regional Health District said.
More prevention tips and guidance can be found on the Spokane Regional Health District’s website.
