What is Lyme disease and how to prevent it? As warmer weather
begins to draw us outside, you should be aware of the risk of
tick bites. While it’s smart to be vigilant against ticks year-
round, I advise to take extra precautions in warmer months
(April through September) when ticks are most active. Ticks feed
on blood. Immature ticks – so small in the larval stage that
they can barely be seen – up to nymphs and adults, all need
blood to fuel them to their next life phase. And if they’ve
drawn blood from an infected source before biting a human, they
can spread Lyme disease. While Lyme is an illness caused by the
bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, ticks may also carry other
infections that may be transmitted with the bite including
Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesia and
Bartonella. Borrelia burgdorferi has been reported in parts of
Europe, Asia, Australia, and throughout much of North America.
Lyme disease in humans can have serious symptoms and
complications if left untreated. These include chil