Nobody is trying to scare Missourians away from hiking or other outdoor activities, but the State Health Department wants everyone to be aware of the threat posed by ticks which can carry disease. And, the Department’s Karen Yates says there are a few simple steps people can take to protect themselves. She recommends people walking through wooded areas to apply insect repellent containing DEET. Yates has some advice for anyone who is bitten by a tick and notices the tick has buried its head beneath the person’s skin. She suggests pulling out the tick, at the head, with a pair of tweezers. Yates offers some good news in that most ticks are not infected and do not carry Lyme disease or other illnesses.)
