Tips on Lyme Disease Prevention

Ticks are most likely to transmit Lyme disease to humans from May to July, according to the Dover Board of Health. In conjunction, the board offers the following tips to protect yourself from tick-born illnesses. 

Repellent
Repellents containing DEET are not sufficient to protect against tick bites. Permethrin, however, kills ticks on contact. Clothing repellents that contain Permethrin are very effective and provide long-lasting protection.

Dress
Remember: Ticks start low and crawl up. Ticks do not jump, fly or drop from trees, they are down on the ground and crawl up until they find a good spot to attach. Tucking pant legs into socks is a good way to keep ticks on the outside where they may be seen or get brushed off. Keep your shirt tucked into your waistband.

Tick Checks
The simplest way to protect yourself is to remove a tick before it has a chance to transmit disease-causing pathogens. Ticks can attach anywhere, they will find spots like: the back of your knee, around waistbands, under armpits or any other constricted place. Anytime after you have been in tick habitat you should thoroughly check your entire body and remove attached ticks immediately. Ticks do not wash off in the shower.

For more information, head to the Dover Board of health's Lyme disease prevention website.