Page 290 - BOXFORD

are highest in children 5-9 years and adults aged 65-75 years. Other tick borne diseases
such as Babesiosis (520 cases in 2014, a 24% increase over 2013) and Anaplasmosis (604
cases in 2014, a 84% increase over 2013) are also on the rise, particularly on the
Cape. In Essex county during 2014 (the latest available data) the following numbers of
cases of tick borne disease were confirmed: 319 Lyme, 32 cases of Babsesiosis and 41
Anaplasmosis.

The Boxford BOH, consistent with the Mass DEP and CDC, continues to recommend
common sense preventative measures when outdoors such as proper clothing and
performing regular tick checks as the best and most proven method(s) to decrease the risk
of contracting Lyme disease. Additional information about how to protect against ticks
when outdoors is posted on the BOH website.

Tick Tubes containing Pyrethrin, a pesticide that kills ticks, presents a means to control
ticks on mice, the species primarily responsible for transmitting Lyme and other diseases
into ticks. Data suggest that Tick Tubes can reduce the numbers of ticks and, if used
instead of spraying, can reduce the amount of pesticide used to control ticks. The Tick
Tubes program, approved at the 2012 October Town Meeting went into effect in
February 2013. Tick Tubes available through the Health Office at 41.25 per box of 24
tubes, enough to approximately cover the perimeter of a ½ acre lot. To date the BOH has
sold 43 boxes of Tuck Tubes at our cost.

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