Champaign County Forest Preserve District officials learned today that a Champaign County dog was confirmed to have Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Since the owner reported the dog had been in Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve in Mahomet, officials want to remind visitors to protect their pets and themselves. "We want people and their pets to enjoy the outdoors this summer," said CCFPD
Executive Director Jerry Pagac. "Taking sensible precautions will allow them to continue to do so."
Persons spending time in areas where ticks are commonly found - tall grass and brush, as well as wooded areas - should take precautions:
* Use insect repellent containing DEET (30 percent or less) to exposed skin (except the face). Be sure to wash treated skin after coming indoors.
* Check yourself, children and pets every 2-3 hours for ticks. Most ticks seldom attach quickly and rarely transmit tickborne disease until they have been attached for four or more hours.
* Use preventive tick treatments on your dog.
Pagac went on to say "this is another good reason to keep your dog on a leash in the forest preserves. Owners are better able to prevent their dogs from walking into areas where ticks may be hiding when they stay on trails and keep their dog on a leash."
Information provided here was taken from the Illinois Department of Public Health website (www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbrmsf.htm) and the American Veterinary Medical Association website
(http://www.avma.org/reference/zoonosis/znrockymountain.asp). People are encouraged to visit those sites or contact their physicians or veterinarians for more information.
