Defining the tick-borne disease occupational risk among 4 high-risk vocations in South Carolina

Tick-borne diseases account for 75% of all vector-borne disease cases in the United States of America. The increase in incidence has been linked with increased exposure among outdoor workers, thus becoming occupational hazards. This brief study aimed to identify the potential occupational exposures among 4 vocational groups in South Carolina (SC) using a knowledge, attitudes, and practices questionnaire survey. A total of 176 individuals responded to the survey, across SC State Parks, SC Department of Natural Resources, SC Forestry Commission, and SC animal shelter and veterinary office employees. Veterinary-related employees had the lowest exposure risk, while forestry employees were the group with highest risk. The findings yielded discrepancies in perceived risk and preventive measures adopted; identifying a potential opportunity to develop an education and training program tailored to outdoor worker populations to maintain low tick bite exposures.