Lyme Disease, a tick-borne illness, is named for Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first diagnosed. Connecticut remains one of the states with the highest number of cases each year. In 2007, Connecticut had 3,058 reported cases of Lyme Disease: more than any other state. New Hampshire and Massachusetts are also among the top five states for incidences of Lyme Disease. Here are tips for protecting yourself:
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes
Here's How:
- Wear light-colored clothing.
- Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, especially when in wooded areas.
- Tuck pants into socks.
- Use an insect repellent that contains DEET (Compare Prices).
- Check yourself and children for ticks at the end of each day.
- If you discover a tick, remove it carefully with tweezers and preserve the tick for possible examination. Contact your physician.
Tips:
- Lyme-carrying ticks are especially prevalent in spring and summer months in New England.
- Get more information on Lyme Disease in Connecticut by calling the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health's epidemiology department at 860-509-7994.
- Lyme Disease is very treatable when detected early.
What You Need:
- Insect Repellent Containing DEET
