  WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT TICKBORNE DISEASES
There is no vaccine to prevent Lyme disease.
This means your only defense is:
- Awareness
- Prevention by using insect repellents
Reduce your chances of getting a tickborne disease by using repellents, checking for ticks, and showering after being outdoors. If you have a tick bite followed by a fever or rash, seek medical attention.
Gardening, camping, hiking, and playing outdoors when enjoying these activities, don't forget to take steps to prevent bites from ticks that share the outdoors.
Ticks can infect humans with bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause serious illness.
Before You Go Outdoors Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in moist and humid environments, particularly in or near wooded or grassy areas. You may come into contact with ticks during outdoor activities around your home or when walking through leaf litter or near shrubs. Always walk in the center of trails in order to avoid contact with ticks.
Products containing permethrin kill ticks. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Use a repellent with DEET on skin. Repellents containing 20% or more DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) can protect up to several hours. Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding the hands, eyes, and mouth. For detailed information about using DEET on children, see recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. For detailed information about tick prevention and control visit: www.cdc.org.
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