Are there ticks in washington state

Here are a few ways to keep ticks from sneaking in on their own. See the fact sheet for more ideas. Download the fact sheet for more information.

There is a lot of misinformation about the best ways to remove a tick. Do not use hot matches or coat the tick with oil, petroleum jelly, soap or nail polish to get the tick to detach. Confront disease-carrying mosquitoes, ticks and mice during spring and summer months.

Health Topics. Topics associated with the health district's mission. Frequently Asked Questions. Reports and fact sheets about community health issues. Helping to ensure health and safety standards are met. Contact Us Do Ticks Carry Disease? Lyme Disease Lyme disease is a bacterial disease transmitted to animals and humans by the bite of certain ticks infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Tick-borne Relapsing Fever Tick-borne relapsing fever is a bacterial infection that causes recurring periods of fever and is transmitted by the soft tick, which picks up the bacteria from rodents.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Transmitted by the American dog tick or the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever may cause fever, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, lack of appetite, and severe headache.

Tick Paralysis Tick paralysis is a progressive condition that typically starts with muscle weakness in the legs, loss of coordination, numbness and difficulty standing or walking.

Tularemia Tularemia can be transmitted by different means; in Washington, it can be spread by the Rocky Mountain wood tick or the American dog tick. Anaplasmosis Spread by western black-legged ticks, anaplasmosis may cause headache, fever, chills and muscle aches.

Adult wood ticks feed primarily on large mammals, while the larvae and nymphs feed on small rodents. These ticks are found throughout the state but prefer woodland areas, medium height grasses and shrubs between wetlands and woods, and sunny or open areas along the edge of woods.

Male Rocky Mountain wood tick , Dermacentor andersoni. Soft tick , Ornithodoros hermsi , is a vector for tick-borne relapsing fever.

Tick-borne relapsing fever is usually linked to sleeping in rustic, rodent-infested cabins in mountainous areas. Because soft ticks usually feed at night and remain attached for a very short time, most people never realize that they were bitten.

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Advanced Search International Search. Ticks in Washington State Although Lyme disease is relatively rare in Washington, ticks in the state can spread a number of other diseases to both humans and pets. Are There Ticks in Washington State? We recommend taking the following precautions when spending time outdoors: Wear long-sleeved shirts, closed-toe shoes, and long pants. Expose as little skin as possible.