Tip of the week: How to avoid Lyme disease
Dress appropriately; Check skin regularly; Clean up quickly
Dress appropriately. More than 25,000 Americans will develop Lyme disease caused by tick bites this year. To keep from becoming a victim, wear long sleeves and pants tucked into your socks when you’re venturing through woods or fields. Deet-based mosquito repellents and clothing made with the chemical permethrin can help keep ticks from catching a ride.
Check skin regularly. Give yourself a thorough inspection once indoors. A tick nymph is about the size of a sesame seed, and ticks “like every part of the body, especially the hairline, ears, belly button, and groin areas.” Early detection matters, because ticks never transmit Lyme in the first 24 hours.
Clean up quickly. Bathe within two hours of being outside. To remove ticks hidden on clothing, tumble garments on high heat in a dryer for one hour.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Source: Outside
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
10 recent scientific breakthroughs
In Depth From cell reparation to monkey communication
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
TV to watch in September, from 'Agatha All Along' to 'The Penguin'
The Week Recommends A 'WandaVision' spinoff, a DC Comics villain's starring turn and a silly Netflix original
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Pope urges climate action, unity at Jakarta mosque
Speed Read The pope and the mosque's top cleric signed a joint declaration encouraging religious tolerance and climate change action
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published