The warmer weather is drawing more people outdoors, and tick season is on the way.  Tick-borne illnesses are reported each year in South Dakota with Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia being the most common diseases carried by dog ticks in the state.  State epidemiologist, Dr. Lon Kightlinger, says once bitten and infected by a tick, a person can experience lots of different symptoms…

 

Kightlinger says there are simple ways to prevent being bitten by a tick.  He says the most effective way is to avoid the areas where ticks mostly likely are…

 

He says that one of the most important things to remember about ticks is the proper way to remove one if you do find you’ve been bitten…

 

The Department of Health investigated two cases of Lyme disease, three of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and five of tularemia in 2014.