Home field is no longer absolutely safe during the scallop season
When talking about scallops, many people often think that they only appear in the forest or in the grassland. However, in reality, scallops can grow in your garden, where there is high grass, overgrown with trees or a lot of shade.
Many people dont think their homeowned yard has scratches, which makes them susceptible to bites without knowing it, said Dr. Alvaro Toledo, Associate Professor of entomology at Rutgers University (USA).
According to Mr. Toledo, scratches can transmit many dangerous diseases such as Lyme, babesiosis, spots of scratch... In particular, warmer weather and prolonged scratch season increase the risk. Therefore, it is necessary to proactively prevent it by:
Regular grass cutting
Cleaning up fallen leaves and rotten trees around the house
Establish a fence with wood or gravel to separate the yard and the forest
Wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothes when going out
Use pesticides containing DEET, picaridin or lemon juice essential oil
Early detection and proper handling of bitten scratches
After walking, gardening or playing outdoors, check your entire body, especially your scalp, ears, knees and navel area. These are places where scum often hide.
If scratches are detected and removed within 24 hours, the risk of infection is almost zero, says Dr. Toledo. When removing scrotum, use a sharp ponytail, close to the skin and pull it straight out. Avoid pressing, squeezing or burning scrotum because it can spread bacteria.
Many people try to get burned or slashed, which increases the risk of infection, warned Dr. Norman Ng from the University of Staten Island (under the Northwell Health system).
If sclerosis stays on the skin for a long time or you experience symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue, you should go to a medical facility for monitoring, you may need to use antibiotics as a backup.
The scallop season is getting longer, so we need to be vigilant all year round
Previously, the scallop season was usually from April to October, but now it has spread all year round. We have recorded measles infections even in the winter, says Dr. Matthew Phillips, an infectious disease specialist at Brigham and Womens Hospital (Massachusetts, USA).
The type of squirrel, the main cause of Lyme disease, still operates at temperatures from 7°C or higher. Therefore, even if you are not in the forest, you should still be on guard against the risk of stings, even in your own yard.
