posted
I am scheduled to travel to DC in early August for my LLMD visit. My family is going with me. I am however very very concerned about another tick bite while there.
I understand DC is very endemic for ticks especially June - August. My family wants to go to the various tourists attractions. How can I protect myself and my family from these ticks?
Am I being paranoid about finding ticks in downtown DC?
I am from a small island, population 58,000, and had never heard of lyme disease before. About five years ago I took one trip to Long Island New York for one week and BAM - lyme disease. So you can understand my paranoia now.
I am trying to tell myself with the millions of people in the US not getting infected .......but then again here I am one week in New York and I got it.
I would appreciate any input. Thanks.
Posts: 138 | From US Virgin Islands | Registered: May 2012
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
You won't have to worry about ticks in D.C. if you just go into the museums. The Smithsonian is wonderful, the Air & Space Museum, Holocaust Museum, etc. It takes DAYS to get through all of the museums.
Also, if you drive around to the monuments you will be fine. Just stay out of the grass. See the Lincoln Memorial, etc.
Anything indoors is fine. (Tour the White House, walk around in the Capitol, etc.)
If you are a tick magnet, just stay off of grass, stay out of parks, etc. To be extra safe, get Avon Skin So Soft Insect Repellant. My lyme doctor recommends it. Put it on the feet for when you are near grass.
You don't ever want to lean against trees, sit on logs, or walk through tall grass. These are the most likely ways to get ticks on you.
I am a tick magnet and I have never gotten a tick on me walking the streets of D.C. Ticks need to stay moist, so they don't hang out on sidewalks or indoors. They stay in grass. Don't sit down near grass.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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