Wyoming Department of Health

Avoid Ticks and the Diseases They Carry

State residents should avoid ticks when enjoying activities or working outdoors during warmer weather because the insects can carry and pass on disease, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH).

“May, June and July are typically the peak months for Wyoming’s tick populations,” said Emily Thorp, WDH surveillance epidemiologist. “Tick exposure is common when we walk through, play or sit in brushy and grassy areas or handle certain animals.”

In Wyoming, diseases transmitted by infected ticks include tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and Colorado tick fever (CTF).

Tularemia symptoms can include fever, swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat, mouth sores, skin ulcers and diarrhea. If the bacteria are inhaled, symptoms can include abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough and progressive weakness and pneumonia. Initial RMSF symptoms may include fever, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, lack of appetite and severe headache. Later signs and symptoms may include rash, abdominal pain, joint pain and diarrhea. RMSF patients often require hospitalization. Colorado tick fever usually causes fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and, occasionally, a rash.

One case of tularemia was reported to WDH in 2012; one case in 2011; and three in 2010, including one that was fatal. In 2012 there were two RMSF cases and one CTF case reported.

“Because these diseases can be quite serious, we suggest anyone who becomes ill after an insect or tick bite or after handling a sick or dead animal should contact a medical professional,” Thorp said.

Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever” or “deer fly fever,” frequently affects rabbits, hares and rodents and has been associated with rabbit die-offs. People may acquire tularemia when bit by infected ticks, deer flies or horse flies. It can also be transmitted by handling infected animals, or through ingestion or contact with untreated, contaminated water or insufficiently cooked meat.

General recommendations to help avoid diseases passed on by ticks include:

* Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to see ticks crawling on clothing.

* Tuck pant legs into socks.

* Apply insect repellents such as those containing 20 percent or more DEET and/or picaradin.

* Upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, search yourself and children for ticks and remove if found.

* Check pets for ticks; veterinarians can recommend tick control products.

Added precautions to help reduce tularemia risk include:

* Avoid bathing, swimming or working in untreated water and avoid drinking untreated water.

* Avoid handling rabbits, squirrels or other animals that appear sick.

* Wear rubber gloves when skinning animals, especially rabbits and squirrels; skin animals in a well-ventilated area.

* Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling sick or dead animals.

* Cook meat thoroughly before eating, especially rabbit and squirrel.

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Baby Chicks Reaches Wyoming

While most people know salmonella outbreaks can be linked with certain contaminated foods, some may not realize handling live poultry can also sometimes spread the illness, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.

“Right now we are following up on three confirmed cases and one probable case connected to a large, current multistate outbreak of salmonella linked to baby chicks,” said Kelly Weidenbach, foodborne disease epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health. Many families order chicks directly from large hatchery businesses online or on a mail order basis; the same large hatcheries also often supply local feed stores.

“Unfortunately, this happens on a regular basis. Each year, particularly in the spring, we see salmonella infections among Wyoming families that we determine were caused by contact or close proximity with baby chicks,” Weidenbach said.

Salmonella germs can cause a diarrheal illness in people that can be mild, severe or sometimes life threatening. Weidenbach noted baby chicks, ducklings and other live poultry can appear healthy and clean but still carry the germs, which are shed through their droppings.

Weidenbach offered advice to help prevent the spread of salmonella through contact with live poultry:

· Children younger than 5 years of age, elderly persons or people with weak immune systems shouldn’t handle or touch chicks or other live poultry.

· After touching live poultry or anything in the area where they are found, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer.

· Don’t let live poultry inside the house, in bathrooms or in areas where food or drink is prepared, served or stored.

· Don’t eat or drink around live poultry, touch them with your mouth or hold closely around your face.

· Clean equipment or materials used in caring for live poultry outside the house, such as cages or feed or water containers.

Liam, Emma Wyoming’s Most Popular Baby Names in 2012

“Liam” filled the number one spot on the most popular names list for new Wyoming baby boys last year while “Emma” remained the top choice for girls’ names, according to the Wyoming Department of Health’s Vital Statistics Services Program.

Liam moved up from the number six slot to replace William as the first choice last year. For 2012 in Wyoming, Liam was followed by Mason, William, Logan and Wyatt.

For girls, Emma was the most popular choice of both last year and 2011, followed by Sophia, Elizabeth, Madison and Olivia.

“One phenomenon we’re seeing is that ‘alternative’ spellings of names seem to be very popular among new parents,” said Jim McBride, Vital Statistics Services Program manager with the Wyoming Department of Health.

McBride noted the alternative spelling “Jaxon” was in the top ten followed by the more traditional spelling of “Jackson.” Other variations of the name included Jaxxon, Jaxen and Jaxson. For girls, variations of the popular “Madison” included Madyson, Maddison, Madisyn and Madisen. When calculating the top names, the Vital Statistics Services Programs does not attempt to include all unique variations.

“Last year, total births were up somewhat over 2011,” McBride said. The program recorded 7,571 births to Wyoming resident mothers during 2012, which is increased slightly from 7,339 in 2011. The year’s largest baby arrived weighing 11 pounds and 15 ounces.

Wyoming’s teen birth rate (28.6 births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) continued to decline. From 2007 the Wyoming rate has shown about a 30 percent decrease. Wyoming’s infant mortality rate (4.6 per 1,000 births) also showed a decline from 2011 to 2012. “These results show we continue to make great strides in public health,” said McBride.

The Vital Statistics Services Program promotes and protects the health of Wyoming by serving as the official custodian of all vital records in the state and by disseminating health information in support of health and social planning efforts. More Wyoming statistics and information about the program can be found online at http://www.health.wyo.gov/rfhd/vital_records/index.html.