Department of Health Issues Warning, Disney World Guests Be Aware

The Department of Health has shared a warning that could be incredibly pertinent to Disney World guests in the coming months.

The Walt Disney World Resort is known more popularly by its moniker “The Most Magical Place on Earth” for good reason. The Central Florida Disney Resort is so beloved by guests all over the world that they flock to the Disney Park to get their fix of the Disney experience.

This year, however, it seems there might be a new kind of visitor to the Disney Park.

The Tussock moth caterpillar is making its return to sunny Central Florida this spring in unprecedented numbers. Seeing as this caterpillar has a higher tolerance for high temperatures, it’s likely it could become more abundant.

As Click Orlando explained, “Tussock moth caterpillars have returned to Central Florida. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, these fuzzy, white-marked insects are mainly found in oak trees and hatch from their eggs in late February to early March. That means they’ll be dispersing on cars, sidewalks, porches, playgrounds and other outdoor structures.” 

Seeing as Disney World has its fair share of “cars, sidewalks, porches, playgrounds and outdoor structures” these caterpillars could well make their presence known at the Disney Resort.

The Tussock moth caterpillar is also known to cause allergic reactions in those who come into direct contact with it. This could eventually lead to an itchy rash. The rash could be so irritating the Florida Department of Health has shared a warning and tips for how to deal with this if a child or individual does come into direct contact with the caterpillar.

As Click Orlando elaborated, any individuals or parents should take the following steps:

• Remove the bug from the skin without using bare hands
• Place any kind of tape on the exposed area
• Pull up the tape to remove any hairs or spines
• Repeat this series of steps with fresh pieces of tapes as often as needed
• Wash the area gently with soap and water
• Apply an ice pack to reduce stinging and apply a paste of baking soda and water to reduce itchiness
• If a rash does not go away, the DOH said it is best to call a healthcare provider

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