DENVER, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- 15 year old LivLyme Foundation founder Olivia Goodreau is introducing the first-ever emojis featuring ticks. Tickmojis illustrate ten of the most prevalent species of ticks in North America, and were reviewed for accuracy by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
"Our LivLyme Tickmojis are a way to have fun and laugh while promoting awareness of a very serious threat," said Olivia. "My goal is to educate the public so no one else has to go through the 9 year journey I have been on with tick-borne illnesses. Always check for ticks." See her video promoting the launch of the Tickmojis here.
Download the free emojis called "Tickmojis" at the Apple app store, or on the TickTracker and LivLyme Foundation websites. You can also get Tickmojis on the TickTracker app by updating or downloading the free app.
Olivia Goodreau contracted Lyme disease and six co-infections after being bitten by a tick at the age of 6 while vacationing with her family in Missouri. She and her parents didn't see the tick and she didn't develop the characteristic bull's-eye rash that in fact occurs in only one in four people.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States. A disease vector is any agent that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism. In 2003, Lyme disease infected around 30,000 Americans. In 2018, there were an estimated 450,000 cases.
In addition to sharing the Tickmojis widely to promote safety, Olivia encourages people to use her free mobile app TickTracker to find out what ticks are in their area. Users can log and track tick sightings on an interactive map. They can also report bites, and upload photos. TickTracker's goal is to help scientists track tick populations and ultimately aid in their research for a cure to Lyme and other diseases spread by ticks.
Here are additional precautions to take to avoid tick-borne illness:
- Avoid tick-infested areas like shady wooden areas, leaf piles, tall grass, forest, wood piles, shrubs, & grassy areas.
- Avoid leaning against trees, sitting on grass or logs.
- Avoid the edges of hiking paths, try to not brush up against shrubs.
- Wear light color or white clothing when outside. Tuck pants into socks. Wear closed toe shoes.
- Use permethrin treated clothes & permethrin spray on shoes. Also apply tick repellant to exposed skin.
- Immediately put your clothes in the dryer on high for 15 minutes when returning from the outdoors.
- Do "Tick Checks" every time you have been in the outdoors.
The LivLyme Foundation envisions a world without Lyme disease and supports the work of researchers and scientists who are dedicated to finding an effective treatment and a cure. LivLyme Foundation also provides education and funding to children and their families who are struggling with Lyme disease. For more information, visit http://www.livlymefoundation.org.
TickTracker is a mobile app developed to help educate everyone as well as assist in the fight against tick-borne diseases by logging and tracking tick sightings and bitings. Our goal is to learn where ticks are and are migrating to in order to help educate and prevent against tick-borne diseases. For more information, visit https://ticktracker.com/
See also:
https://www.facebook.com/Tickmojis/
https://www.facebook.com/livlymefoundation/
https://www.facebook.com/ticktrackerAPP/
https://twitter.com/tickmojis
https://twitter.com/liv_lyme
https://twitter.com/TicktrackerAPP
https://www.instagram.com/tickmojis/
https://www.instagram.com/livlymefoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/ticktracker/
SOURCE LivLyme Foundation
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