{"id":18589,"date":"2016-06-22T10:05:41","date_gmt":"2016-06-22T14:05:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/?p=18589"},"modified":"2016-06-22T11:36:11","modified_gmt":"2016-06-22T15:36:11","slug":"county-health-officials-warn-residents-to-avoid-ticks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/county-health-officials-warn-residents-to-avoid-ticks\/","title":{"rendered":"County Health Officials Warn Residents to Avoid Ticks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ticks\"<\/a>MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Health Officials are advising the public about the presence of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease<\/strong> in the County\u2019s deer tick population.<\/p>\n

The New York State Department of Health<\/strong> conducts tick surveillance across the state in an effort to reduce the spread of tick-borne disease.\u00a0 Lyme disease and is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected black-legged tick.<\/p>\n

Deer ticks live in shady, moist areas at ground level. They will cling to tall grass, brush and shrubs, usually no more than 18-24 inches off the ground. They also live in lawns and gardens, especially at the edges of woods and around old stone walls.\u00a0 Once a tick gets on the skin, it generally climbs upward until it reaches a protected area.<\/p>\n

Your best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation. However, if you garden, hike, camp, hunt, work or otherwise spend time in the outdoors, you can still protect yourself:<\/p>\n