Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases
Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in New York, but ticks can spread other serious diseases.
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What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection that can cause fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash, and if left untreated, can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.
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What is Anaplasmosis & Ehrlichiosis?
Anaplasmosis & Ehrlichiosis is a bacterial infection that can cause fever, chills, fatigue, and muscle aches. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications.
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What is Babesiosis?
Babesiosis is a disease caused by a parasite that infects red blood cells and people may not show any symptoms.
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What is Rocky Mountain Spotted fever?
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a bacterial infection that can cause fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, and can progress rapidly causing a life-threating illness.
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Prevention
- Use EPA-registered insect repellants containing from 10% to 35% DEET, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone when outdoors.
- Wear light-colored long pants and long-sleeved clothing to make it easier to spot ticks before they attach to the skin.
- Apply sunscreen first then apply insect repellent, when both are used.
- Avoid overgrown brush and tall grass when spending time outside, even on your own yard.
- Remove ticks promptly by grasping the tick with fine point tweezers as close as possible to the skin and pull straight out. Be careful not to squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick, which may contain infectious fluids. After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site and wash your hands. Do not attempt to remove the tick by using petroleum jelly, lit cigarettes, or other home remedies, these may increase the chance of contracting a tick-borne disease. Watch NYDOH video on proper removal or visit the Tick Bite Bot | Ticks | CDC
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