May Is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

When Lyme Disease Awareness Month was first initiated it was to bring awareness to an ever growing number of confirmed cases of Lyme disease around our country and around the world. As a disease, it was not well known nor did the general public realize that the chance of having an encounter with a black-legged tick or deer tick that is infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease was as high as it was, and currently still is today. Everyone should learn the proper precautions to take when heading outdoors to avoid tick bites. And we should all be aware of the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is an acute inflammatory disease that is caused by the bite of a black-legged or a deer tick that is infected with the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. Both of these ticks can be found in the Northern, Central, and Eastern parts of the US. These disease carrying ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas, but have also been discovered in just about any outdoor environment. From golf courses to city parks to the banks of streams and lakes there is always a chance of a Lyme disease toting tick encounter.

To lessen the chances of receiving a tick bite you can take the following precautions:

• Avoid wooded and tall grass areas.

• Cover as much skin as possible.

• Tuck your pant legs into your sock and wear shoes. Most of the time ticks are sitting on a blade of grass or on the ground just waiting for you to brush up against them so they can cling onto you.

• Spray your clothing with an insect repellent that is designed specifically to repel ticks.

• Check yourself, your loved ones, and your pets before going back indoors.

• If possible, leave your outer clothing outside and do not bring it indoors.

• Under the guidance of your veterinarian, treat your pets with a flea and tick treatment for both their protection and yours.

• Partner up with All-American Pest Control for pest control yard treatments.

Lyme disease symptoms can range from flu-like weakness and all over pain to numbness in extremities, headaches, exhaustion, and digestive issues. For a complete list of the symptoms the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists, click here. If you or someone you love has a tick on them please follow the specific instructions here for proper removal.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month is a great way to educate everyone about the seriousness of this disease and the frequency of its occurrence all over the US. Here at All-American Pest Control, we care about our families, co-workers, clients, and neighbors; and we want you all to be educated on Lyme disease so that you're better protected. Give us a call today and we'll schedule your free evaluation so that we can show you how our stinging and biting insect yard treatments can help protect you and your family.