Listen

DHSS Press Release

Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-357-7498
Email: jill.fredel@state.de.us

DPH Media Contact:
Andrea Wojcik
302-744-4805, Cell 302-242-0287
Email: andrea.wojcik@delaware.gov

Date: May 16, 2019
DHSS-05-2019

DPH LYME DISEASE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES DURING DELAWARE'S FIRST LYME DISEASE AWARENESS WEEK

WHAT:	The Division of Public Health (DPH) is conducting activities statewide during Lyme Disease Awareness Week (May 19 - 25, 2019). Media are invited to attend the following: Presentation to seventh graders as part of the BLAST Lyme Disease Campaign coordinated through the Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology. The campaign utilizes a health educator to visit camps, schools, and other Delaware organizations in order to increase awareness of tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease, how to prevent tick bites as well as safely remove ticks. DPH also provides youth-focused information and activities at: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/lymekidskorner.html. WHEN: Tuesday, May 21, 2019 - 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. WHERE: Smyrna Middle School - Multi-purpose Room 700 Duck Creek Parkway Smyrna, DE 19977 WHO: Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director, DPH The Honorable Pete Schwartzopf, Speaker, House of Representatives (D-14) (invited) Emily Marshall, Trainer/Educator, DPH VISUALS: Lyme disease presentation, students engaged in game-based review, visuals of ticks DPH presents six tick bite prevention trail signs to the Town of Milton. The poly-vinyl signs are available free of charge to all municipalities and parks statewide, while supplies last. WHEN: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. WHERE: Town of Milton SPEAKERS: Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director, DPH Greg Wingo, Director, Milton Public Works The Honorable Pete Schwartzopf, Speaker, House of Representatives (D-14) (invited) The Honorable Stephen Smyk, State Representative (R-20) (invited) DPH Epidemiology staff VISUALS: presentation of tick bite prevention trail signs; speakers available for interviews regarding symptoms, prevention tips, etc.
WHY:	Delaware is among the top 10 states with the highest incidence rates in the United States. Untreated infections can lead to debilitating and sometimes dangerous health problems, including heart palpitations and dizziness, joint pain, meningitis, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. Blacklegged or deer ticks transmit the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and B. mayonii to humans through their bites. In 2018, DPH reported 520 cases of Lyme disease (confirmed and probable cases): 302 in New Castle County, 87 in Kent County, and 131 in Sussex County. For more information on Lyme disease in Delaware visit: de.gov/lyme.
QUESTIONS:	302-744-4704

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person's spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

DPH LYME DISEASE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES DURING DELAWARE'S FIRST LYME DISEASE AWARENESS WEEK

Delaware's Government