Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease (LD) is an infection caused by a bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, that is carried by ticks. An infected tick can transmit LD bacteria to animals and humans when it bites. If the disease is untreated, LD can have several symptoms, some of which can become severe. In its early stages, LD affects the skin, and then can spread to the joints, nervous system and then perhaps to other organ systems. LD is almost always readily cured if it is diagnosed early and treated with antibiotics.

Quick Prevention Tips

Avoid tick habitats, particularly in spring and summer when nymphal ticks feed. Habitat includes areas with leaf litter and low-lying vegetation in wooded, brushy or overgrown grassy habitat.
Tuck pants into socks to protect yourself from the bites of ticks and other vectors.
Wear light-colored clothing so ticks can be spotted more easily and removed before becoming attached.
Wear high rubber boots to provide additional protection.
Use insect repellents containing DEET (n,n-diethyl-m toluamide) to clothes and exposed skin, and apply permethrin (which kills ticks on contact) to clothes.

More information:

Lyme Disease Home Page- National Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - Lots of information about the disease, the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, and links to further information.
Lyme Disease: A Patient's Guide- American College of Physicians/American Society of Internal Medicine - A useful collection of information on disease symptoms for diagnosis, including pictures, and symptoms at later stages, treatments, and more.
Lyme Disease: The Facts, the Challenges- the National Institutes of Health - A page with several links to further information on Lyme Disease, including general information, disease prevention and treatment, current research, and how the disease was identified.
Pictures of Lyme Disease Rashes- Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc. - A collection of photos of examples of how a Lyme Disease rash might appear

Home > Departments > Health and Human Services > Community Health > Communicable Diseases > Lyme Disease
	Lyme Disease Lyme Disease (LD) is an infection caused by a bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, that is carried by ticks. An infected tick can transmit LD bacteria to animals and humans when it bites. If the disease is untreated, LD can have several symptoms, some of which can become severe. In its early stages, LD affects the skin, and then can spread to the joints, nervous system and then perhaps to other organ systems. LD is almost always readily cured if it is diagnosed early and treated with antibiotics. Quick Prevention Tips Avoid tick habitats, particularly in spring and summer when nymphal ticks feed. Habitat includes areas with leaf litter and low-lying vegetation in wooded, brushy or overgrown grassy habitat. Tuck pants into socks to protect yourself from the bites of ticks and other vectors. Wear light-colored clothing so ticks can be spotted more easily and removed before becoming attached. Wear high rubber boots to provide additional protection. Use insect repellents containing DEET (n,n-diethyl-m toluamide) to clothes and exposed skin, and apply permethrin (which kills ticks on contact) to clothes. More information: Lyme Disease Home Page- National Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - Lots of information about the disease, the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, and links to further information. Lyme Disease: A Patient's Guide- American College of Physicians/American Society of Internal Medicine - A useful collection of information on disease symptoms for diagnosis, including pictures, and symptoms at later stages, treatments, and more. Lyme Disease: The Facts, the Challenges- the National Institutes of Health - A page with several links to further information on Lyme Disease, including general information, disease prevention and treatment, current research, and how the disease was identified. Pictures of Lyme Disease Rashes- Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc. - A collection of photos of examples of how a Lyme Disease rash might appear