The Governor's Lyme Disease Advisory Council Says. . . GET WISE TO LYME DISEASE

Awareness of where ticks are found in nature, and a few simple precautions are all that may be necessary to prevent infection.

AVOID wooded areas with dense shrubs and leaf litter. MAKE your yard less attractive to ticks: mow lawns and prune trees. WEAR solid, light,colored clothing with pants tucked into socks. Use skin and/or clothing insect repellents for you and your pets. Read label directions carefully. EXAMINE yourself frequently while in tick-infested areas. PERFORM a full-body exam on yourself, children, and pets after leaving tick habitat. REMOVE attached ticks promptly. USE fine-pointed tweezers. GRASP the tick's mouth parts close to the skin. APPLY steady outward pressure. DO NOT use petroleum jelly, noxious chemicals, or hot objects to remove ticks. Improper removal can increase the chances of infection.

LYME DISEASE IS TRANSMITTED BY THE BITE OF AN INFECTED DEER TICK WHICH MAY BE AS SMALL AS THE SIZE OF A PINHEAD. Photo by John vanDyk, Iowa State University Entomology THE RASH OF LYME DISEASE Photo courtesy of G Heir, DMD, LA Fein, MD, MPH

Lyme disease presents as a flu-like illness with achy joints, muscle pain, and headache, and is commonly associated with an expanding red rash. Do not ignore these signs. If untreated, Lyme disease may affect the heart, joints, and nervous system, requiring extensive treatment.

A public service of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Governor's Lyme Disease Advisory Council

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