How worried should people be about ticks relative to other threats to their health?
Worrying is such a subjective term. Some people will worry about cancer, but still sunbathe or smoke. Some people worry about spiders or snakes. To me, worrying connotes paralysis and lack of action. Anyway, there are a lot of threats to our health out there — environmental, behavioral, genetic and so on. Most people will not need to concern themselves with tick-borne diseases. Those who should pay attention to them include those who enjoy our rural areas, such as state parks and fish and wildlife areas; those who live in these areas; and those whose jobs take them into these habitats, such as rural electric cooperative workers. What precautions can we take to avoid tick bites when we are in an environment where ticks may be present? • Wear light-colored clothing when walking in the woods, including long pants and long-sleeved shirts, so that ticks can be spotted easily before they attach. Tuck pants into socks or boots, and shirts into pants. Tape the area where pants and socks meet t
