Tick-Borne Illness Prevention
The Martha’s Vineyard Tick-borne Illness Reduction Initiative (aka the Tick Program) is dedicated to reducing the number of ticks and tick-borne illnesses on Martha’s Vineyard through education, advocacy and cooperation with other organizations and individuals.
Take the following steps to protect yourself from tick bites:
- Wear ‘protective clothing’ to block ticks from reaching your skin. Tuck long pants in to socks or closed-toe shoes and tuck shirt into pants.
- 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%-30% DEET on your exposed skin and clothing to prevent tick bites.
- Reapply repellents as needed.
- Use repellents such as Permethrin for greater protection.
- Permethrin kills ticks after a few minutes of exposure.
- Follow label directions, permethrin should not be used on skin. Once permethrin is dried on clothing (2-4 hours) it is ready to use.
- One application of permethrin to pants, socks, and shoes typically stays effective through several washings (stays protective for 6 weeks or 6 washings).
- Send your clothing to be permethrin treated or buy pre-treated clothing which remains protective up to 70 washings. Insect Shield offers 15% off their products to Island Boards of Health, for a discount use code MARTHASV2025 .
Personal Prevention
Yard Surveys
Deer Hunting