[pct-l] Ticks and lyme disease

[patti kulesz]

Cherry Bomb has a booth at KO and will be talking about Lyme. Unfortunatley she 
contracted it from just being in her backyard...not even on the trail...but 
didn't get any clues she was sick until she began hiking last year. Now she is 
undergoing some serious treatment for the next six months in hopes of hiking 
NEXT year. She will have premitherin and deet at the booth. Lyme sux! 
 
Sugar Moma  

 




________________________________
From: Susan Alcorn <backpack45 at yahoo.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Fri, April 15, 2011 12:57:14 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Ticks and lyme disease

Just happens that I recently visited the CDC (Center for Disease Control) site 
and gathered some stats on incidence of Lyme Disease. By far the greatest number 
of cases are occurring in the Northeast -- Pennsylvania had 4,950 confirmed 
cases in 2009; California had 117, Oregon 12, Washington 1. Site also says they 
are most active April-Sept. - when weather is warmer.

The CDC gives several suggestions (good luck with some of these!)
1) wear light-colored clothing; 
2) stay in the middle of the trail to avoid brushing against overhanging shrubs 
and out of leaf litter; 

3) use DEET or Permethrin;
4) do a tick check at least daily;
5) shower soon after "exposure"

You can find out more at http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/

I've only had 1 tick latch onto me in my 70 years and that wasn't on the PCT!
Cheers,
Susan Alcorn 

Shepherd Canyon Books, Oakland, CA 
www.backpack45.com and backpack45.blogspot.com
http://www.examiner.com/hiking-in-san-francisco/susan-alcorn
Publishers of two award-winning books: Camino Chronicle: Walking to Santiago and 
We're in the Mountains Not over the Hill: Tales and Tips from Seasoned Women 
Backpackers.



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