Biology:Occupational exposure to Lyme disease

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Occupational exposure to Lyme disease is exposure to Lyme disease on the job. It is a major health issue among outdoor workers. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in the United States. In 2010, more than 22,500 confirmed and 7,500 probable cases of Lyme disease were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lyme disease is passed to humans by the bite of black-legged ticks (also known as deer ticks in the eastern United States) and western black-legged ticks infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The Lyme disease bacterium normally lives in mice, squirrels, and other small mammals.[1] Cat fleas and ticks can carry pathogenic organisms that infect a person with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.[2]

Populations at risk

Outdoor workers are at risk of Lyme disease if they work at sites with infected ticks. In 2010, the highest number of confirmed Lyme disease cases were reported from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Minnesota, Maryland, Virginia, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Maine. U.S. workers in the northeastern and north-central States are at highest risk of exposure to infected ticks. Ticks may also transmit other tick-borne diseases to workers in these and other regions of the country. Worksites with woods, bushes, high grass, or leaf litter are likely to have more ticks. Outdoor workers should be extra careful to protect themselves in the late spring and summer when young ticks are most active.[1]

NIOSH and CDC recommendations

NIOSH and the CDC recommend that all outdoor workers be informed and have their questions answered by employers about Lyme disease on the job. Workers at risk of Lyme disease include, but are not limited to, those working in the following:[citation needed]

  • Construction
  • Landscaping
  • Forestry
  • Brush clearing
  • Land surveying
  • Farming
  • Railroad work
  • Oil field work
  • Utility line workers
  • Park or wildlife management
  • Other outdoor work[1]

Recommendations for Employers

NIOSH and the CDC recommend that employers protect their workers from Lyme disease. This can be accomplished by providing training that includes information about the following:[citation needed]

  • How Lyme disease is spread
  • The risks of exposure and infection
  • How workers can protect themselves from ticks
  • The importance of the timely reporting of workplace illnesses and injuries
  • The practice of wearing light-colored long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and hat when possible
  • Wear company provided uniforms that consist of long-sleeved shirts and long pants as options.
  • Wearing appropriate repellents (containing 20% to 30% DEET) to use on their skin and clothing for protection against tick bites

Employers are also able to help prevent contracting Lyme disease in their workers by:[citation needed]

  • Providing workers with insecticides (such as permethrin)to provide greater protection. Permethrin kills ticks and can be used on clothing (but not skin).
  • Avoiding working at sites with woods, bushes, tall grass, and leaf litter when feasible.
  • Providing personal protective equipment.

If work in these higher-risk sites must occur, the following can reduce tick populations:[citation needed]

  • Remove leaf litter.
  • Remove, mow, or cut back tall grass and brush.
  • Control rodent and small mammal populations.
  • Discourage deer activity.[1]

Workers

Workers can protect themselves if they:[citation needed]

  • Wear a hat and light-colored clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into boots or socks.
  • Use insect repellents that provide protection for the amount of time you will be outdoors:
  • Follow repellent label directions for use.
  • Use repellents containing 20% to 30% DEET on your skin or clothing.
  • Reapply repellents as needed.
  • Use insecticides such as Permethrin for greater protection.[1]

Precautions

Permethrin is an 'insecticide' that kills ticks on contact. Permethrin can be used on clothing but not on skin. One application of permethrin to pants, socks, and shoes typically stays effective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and remains protective for many (up to 70) washings. Check skin and clothes for ticks edaily. The immature forms of these ticks are very small and may be hard to see. Check hair, underarms, and groin for ticks.[1]

Tick removal

  • NIOSH and the CDC recommend that workers:
  • Immediately remove ticks from their body using fine-tipped tweezers.
  • Grasp the tick firmly and as close to their skin as possible.
  • Pull the tick's body away from the skin with a steady motion.
  • Clean the area with soap and water.
  • Removing infected ticks within 24 hours reduces the risk of being infected with the Lyme disease bacterium.
  • Wash and dry work clothes in a hot dryer to kill any ticks present.
  • Learn the symptoms of Lyme disease.

If you develop symptoms of Lyme disease seek medical attention promptly. Be sure to tell your health care provider that you work outdoors in an area where ticks may be present.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Lyme Diseases". National Institutes of Safety and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lyme/. Retrieved June 22, 2017.   This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2. ↑ Chomel, Bruno (2014). "Emerging and Re-Emerging Zoonoses of Dogs and Cats". Animals 4 (3): 434–445. doi:10.3390/ani4030434. ISSN 2076-2615. PMID 26480316. 

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