Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that ticks transmit to people and animals. Lyme disease has been reported throughout the United States, although the majority of cases have been reported in the northeast, the north central states and along the west coast. Lyme disease is now the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States.

Things to know:

• Lyme disease is spread by black-legged ticks (deer ticks), which are smaller than dog ticks.
• The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease can take weeks, months or years to develop.
• Often within one to two weeks, infected persons will have a rash shaped like a bulls-eye, muscle or joint pain, or flu-like symptoms.
• People with Lyme disease have reported signs and symptoms that are often similar to other diseases.
• If you suspect you may have Lyme disease, consider talking to your doctor.
• Preventing bites from ticks is the best way to avoid getting Lyme disease. If you are going to be in areas where ticks are present, consider using a tick repellent.

Additional Resources:

• Lyme Disease - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• How Lyme Disease Spreads - CDC
• Risk of Disease from Mosquito and Tick Bites - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Lone Star Tick a Concern, but Not for Lyme Disease - CDC
• Signs and Symptoms of Untreated Lyme Disease - CDC
• Lyme Disease - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• How Can We Prevent Lyme Disease? - Hayes and Piesman 2003, New England Journal of Medicine
• Lyme Disease: What You Need To Know - CDC
• Travelers' Health Information on Lyme Disease - CDC
• Tickborne Diseases in Workers - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Surveillance for Lyme Disease - United States, 1992-2006 - CDC
• Lyme Disease Statistics - CDC
• Lyme Disease in California - University of California Statewide IPM Program

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.