Staying safe from ticks

Hey Mr. Green,
I work outdoors in tall grass that harbors ticks. I've heard that unless you wash your clothes in hot water and dry them in the dryer, ticks can survive in the fabric. True? If so, the daily wash-and-dry routine, plus a shower, seems incredibly energy-intensive. Is there a more efficient way to minimize my risk of Lyme disease from ticks?--Rowan in Aberdeen, Maryland

When trying to save energy, we sometimes forget other environmental hazards. The amount of resources you'd consume de-ticking your duds might be far less than you'd end up burning for doctor visits, hospital stays, or, God forbid, having to drive everywhere because you'd gotten so decrepit.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends removing ticks from clothes, washing the clothing in hot water, then drying it in high heat for a full hour--though the American Lyme Disease Foundation says just 20 minutes will do. The high-heat part is especially important; research shows that these bloodsucking micro-menaces can survive a strong washing but not extended exposure to high temperatures.

Lyme disease is on the rise in the United States, with nearly 30,000 confirmed cases reported in 2009. Ironically, this may be partly the result of two great environmental triumphs: the regrowth of forests and the resurgence of deer, which carry ticks, from a low of 500,000 in the early 1900s to 30 million today.

Whatever the reason for Lyme disease's revival, don't hold back on efforts to avoid it; doing so would represent a false economy.

Comments

[Joy Fatooh]

Tell Mr. Green! "The regrowth of forests and the resurgence of deer" are not "great environmental triumphs" in the many regions where forests are overgrown and deer are overpopulated due to excessive suppression of wildfires and predators. Please don't represent Lyme disease as the unfortunate consequence of a balanced ecosystem.

[Dorothy Leland, California Lyme Disease Association]

Mr. Green, the letter writer asked for "a more efficient way to minimize my risk from ticks." You seem to offer only that he/she should dry clothes in a dryer for 20-60 minutes. There are more options: becoming aware of high risk areas for ticks when outdoors; dress appropriately to minimize exposure to ticks--long sleeves, long pants, use of "Insect Shield" garments; tick repellent on exposed skin, a thorough tick check when coming in from outside (pets too!)are some things that should be on the radar of anyone who spends time in possible tick habitat. More info at www.lymedisease.org.

[Tom]

Awareness of high risk areas can only take you so far - especially when you have to work in those areas already. 20-60 minutes on high heat is probably adequate, and as Mr. Green put it: probably less expensive than having to visit the doctor all the time!

[Said]

Thank you my friend :) I will come back to read more from you!

[workboots]

Hi, I really enjoyed visiting your site and reading the interesting articles and comments that are posted here. Nice job, keep up the good work. :-)
VJ-Global

[Debbie]

Great and interesting article. My dog brings in ticks alot in the summer. I get worried that one is going to get on someone is the family. Keep up the good work