How to prevent Lyme disease?

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to avoid being bitten by infected ticks. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of tick bites:

1. Avoid tick-infested areas: Ticks are most commonly found in wooded, brushy, or grassy areas. It's best to avoid these areas, especially during peak tick season (spring through fall).
2. Use repellents: Use a tick repellent on your skin and clothing, especially when spending time in tick-infested areas. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 are effective.
3. Wear protective clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, tuck your pants into your socks, and wear closed-toe shoes when spending time in tick-infested areas.
4. Check your body for ticks: After spending time in tick-infested areas, check your body and clothing for ticks. Be sure to check hard-to-see areas such as the scalp, armpits, and groin.
5. Remove ticks promptly: If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it promptly using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it straight out.
6. Keep your yard and surrounding area tick-free: Keep your lawn mowed, remove leaf litter and tall grasses, and place wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to create a barrier.
7. Vaccination: Currently, there are no vaccines available for the prevention of Lyme disease in humans.

It's important to note that even if you take all the preventive measures, you may still get a tick bite, so it's important to be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease and seek medical attention if you suspect you have been infected.

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