CDC Advises Tick Bite Prevention to Reduce Lyme Disease Risk

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria spread through bites from infected blacklegged ticks. An estimated 476,000 infections are diagnosed and treated each year in the United States, making it the leading tickborne disease.

Most reported cases occur in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper-Midwest regions, with additional cases reported along the Pacific Coast. Many exposures happen in residential yards or neighborhoods rather than only in wooded areas. Blacklegged ticks remain active whenever winter temperatures stay above freezing, though most cases are reported during summer months.

Recommended steps include using EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus and reapplying according to label instructions. Long-sleeved shirts, pants, and clothing pretreated with 0.5 percent permethrin are also advised.

People should check their bodies, clothing, and pets for ticks during and after outdoor activities and shower soon afterward. Attached ticks should be removed promptly. Pet owners are directed to consult a veterinarian before applying any tick prevention products to cats, which are sensitive to certain chemicals.

Daily checks are recommended for dogs that go outdoors. Property modifications such as maintaining mowed lawns, clearing leaf litter, and creating wood-chip barriers between lawns and wooded areas can reduce tick habitat.