Summer Disease Update

Important information for you to know about rabies and bats in your home.

• Bats have the potential to carry rabies and evaluation is necessary to determine if there has been an exposure to humans and/or animals.

 

The definition of a bat exposure is as follows:

 

• Waking up to a bat in your sleeping area
• Finding a bat with an unattended child, someone who is cognitively impaired, or intoxicated
• If you are bitten, licked, or scratched by a bat

 

 

If you find a bat in your home, you will need to catch it. You will need:

• Leather work gloves
• A piece of cardboard
• A small box or coffee can
• Tape

 

• When the bat lands, approach it slowly. While wearing gloves, place a box or coffee can over the bat. Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape the cardboard to the container.

 

• After catching or killing the bat. DO NOT THROW IT AWAY. Store the bat in a refrigerator or adequately cold cooler. DO NOT FREEZE THE BAT.

 

• The bat is needed to test for the presence of rabies. If you find a bat in your home please contact the Communicable Disease office at 517-887-4308 to determine if there has been an exposure, if the bat should be tested, and/or if treatment is needed for the prevention of rabies.

 

For more information check out the links below

• http://hd.ingham.org/Home/CommunicableDisease/CDFactSheets/AGuidetoBatsinyourHome.aspx (links to ichd guide to bats in your home)
• http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Rabflowcht3people_7361_7.pdf (Links to MDCH document)
• http://www.michigan.gov/documents/rabies_pets_flowchart_134247_7.pdf(Links to MDCH document)

 

West Nile Virus (WNV) and mosquitoes

 

What is West Nile Virus?

• West Nile Virus is a mosquito born virus that although usually mild, has the potential to cause serious conditions such as encephalitis or meningitis.

 

How is West Nile Virus Spread?

• West Nile Virus is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
• Although animals such as bird may become infected by WNV, there is no evidence of transmission from animals to humans.
• You cannot get WNV from another person who has the disease.

 

What are the Symptoms?

• Symptoms of West Nile Virus may include fever, headache, or body aches. Some may also develop a mild rash or swollen lymph glands.
• In very serious cases, severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, confusion or muscle weakness may occur and lead to neurological damage or death.

 

How can it be prevented?

• If spending time outside during the summer months in an area with ticks, wear protective clothing such as long pants, long sleeve shirts, and socks.
• Apply insect repellent  to yourself and children
• Drain all standing water in the yard on a weekly basis and empty water from items such as flower pots, clogged rain gutters, tires, and other mosquito breeding habitats.
• Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens.

 

For More information check out the links below

• http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,4612,7-132-2940-34269--,00.html
• http://hd.ingham.org/Home/CommunicableDisease/CDFactSheets/WestNileVirus.aspx

 

 

Ticks and Lyme disease

What is Lyme disease?

• Lyme disease is an illness transmitted by the bite of a tick. It cannot be transmitted from human to human.
• Animals such as dogs are also susceptible to Lyme disease.

 

What are the symptoms?

• Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash in a “bull’s eye” shape. 
• If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

How can it be prevented?

• Avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter.

• Keep ticks off your skin by wearing closed toe shoes, long pants, and a long sleeve shirt.
• Use insect repellents when spending time outside
• Check your skins and clothing for ticks often and promptly remove any tick you find.

Tick Removal

• Using fine tipped tweezers grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, then slowly but firmly pull it straight out.  Do not twist or jerk the tick as that could result in the tick’s mouthparts remaining embedded in the skin.
• Immediately wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water and apply an antiseptic.

For more information check out the links below

• http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/
• http://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,1607,7-186-25890---,00.html