Lyme Disease Awareness

May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month and is a great opportunity to remind parents and students to be aware of ticks, especially in forested or grassy/bushy areas. Ticks become active in the early spring and remain active right up until the first heavy snowfall in late fall. Although the risk of becoming infected with Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections is still relatively low, you can reduce the risk by taking precautions when enjoying outdoor activities. Precautions include: 

• Wearing long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, socks, and closed footwear.
• Tucking your pants into your socks and wearing light-colored clothing, which makes ticks easier to spot.
• Using an insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin on your clothing and exposed skin.
• Taking a shower within one to two hours of being outdoors and examining your body thoroughly for ticks while showering.
• Routinely checking pets for ticks and consulting a veterinarian regarding long-term protection for pets.

For more information, please visit the Region of Durham website.