June 7, 2002 (The Associated Press) -- Roughly one-fourth of ticks in many parts of the Northeast are infected with the bacteria causing Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi.
Young ticks - larvae and nymphs smaller than a freckle - become infected by feeding on the bacteria's primary hosts, mice and chipmunks, then infect the next animal or person they bite if they remain attached for roughly 36 hours.
Some tips on preventing infection:
-Use insect repellent; check to make sure it is safe for children.
-Wear light-colored clothes, long-sleeved shirts and long pants; tuck pants into socks.
-Tie back long hair.
-Don't sit on the ground or stone walls, which are havens for ticks.
-After time outdoors, shower and rub your body firmly with a wash cloth, then check for ticks.
-Seek prompt medical attention if you are bitten by a tick or have these symptoms: fatigue, muscle aches, low-grade fever, chills, headaches and, often, a red expanding rash that may resemble a bull's eye. Delaying treatment can lead to serious complications.
-Avoid areas with brush. Keep lawns well trimmed; clear brush and leaf litter from the edge of your property.
-Avoid use of groundcover plants and vegetation that attracts deer, which also can carry infected ticks. Stack woodpiles off the ground.
Homeowners can also spray insecticide around the edge of a property, but that can be harmful for children, pets and the environment.
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
