Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

TERRITORY OF AKWESASNE – The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Community Health Program is notifying the community that there have recently been cases of ticks in Akwesasne testing positive for the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is an illness spread by ticks which can cause serious symptoms if not treated. Symptoms include a red bull’s-eye type mark, fatigue, chills, and muscle/joint pain. Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics, but becomes more severe as it progresses untreated.

Ticks live in and around wooded areas. Humans are most likely to come into contact with ticks in nature, by brushing up against plant life/trees, or in a weedy lawn. They often burrow in pets and other animals and are carried into homes this way. It is best to check an animal outside for ticks before bringing it indoors.

Tick Prevention:

If you are going to be spending time in a wooded or tall grass area, take extra measures to ensure no ticks travel home with you.

- Wear light colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants

- Tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks

- Spray yourself with a bug repellant containing DEET

- Check your body, clothing and pets for ticks before entering your home

If you’ve been bitten by a tick, use tweezers to remove it in an upward motion being careful the head doesn’t break off beneath the skin. Place it in a plastic bottle (old medicine bottles work perfectly) and bring it to the Community Health Program for free testing. If you’ve been bitten by a tick and a rash appears, see a medical professional immediately.

For more information on Lyme disease, visit http://www.cdc.gov/lyme or contact MCA’s Community Health Program at 613-575-2341 Ext. 3220.