May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and with the high number of
reported cases in New York, it is important to arm yourself and
your family with the tools to avoid the disease when possible,
and detect and treat when necessary. Lyme disease is an
infection, caused by bacteria, that is spread by the bite of an
infected tick. Lyme disease can affect the skin, joints, nervous
system and/or heart. Over 77,000 cases of Lyme disease have been
reported to the New York State Department of Health since
reporting was first required in 1986. When detected early, it
usually can be treated with oral antibiotics. If left untreated,
it often causes serious health problems. The type of tick
responsible for spreading Lyme disease in New York is the deer
tick. Not all deer ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme
disease; they become infected after feeding on an infected
animal such as a mouse or other small mammal. Transmission from
infected ticks does not occur until a tick has been attached and
feeding for at least 24 to 36