With COVID-19 numbers trending downward, Lyon County Public Health is now shifting its attention back to more traditional health concerns with springtime now in full swing.
At the top of that list are tick-borne illness and rabies cases. When it comes to tick season, Lyon County Public Health Environmental Services Director Keena Privat says it seems the tick season is beginning sooner and sooner each year.
These species can carry diseases such as lime disease and rocky mountain spotted fever. Privat says prevention and regular tick checks are both key to helping prevent any illnesses from developing or spreading, especially for those who plan to spend a large amount of time outdoors in the coming months.
Common symptoms of tick-borne illnesses include fever, chills, aches and rash. If you develop any or all of these symptoms you should consult your regular physician immediately.
As for rabies, Privat says it is important for residents to ensure their animals are up to date on all vaccinations and if you suffer an animal bite it must be reported to local law enforcement. Privat says there are several signs that an animal may be infected with rabies including “abnormal behavior.”
There has been a recent rash of dog bites reported over the past few weeks and one confirmed rabies case involving a skunk. For more information or questions visit publichealth.lyoncounty.org.
