We want each citizen to know about ways to prevent tick bites, what to do if bitten and to seek medical treatment if symptoms occur. Lyme disease is an important public health problem for people of all ages. It is the most commonly diagnosed tick-borne disease in the United States. If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to serious health problems, chronic arthritis, nerve and heart damage. This includes wearing appropriate clothes and checking your body for the presence of ticks.
Prevention is the key to avoiding tick bites.
People should check themselves, their children and their pets daily for ticks. Biting ticks must remain attached on the human body for a least 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease. In December 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the world's first vaccine for the prevention of Lyme disease in humans. The vaccine is another level of protection that people can use to prevent Lyme disease. In people who had Lyme disease symptoms, a clinical study showed the vaccine was 78 percent effective after three doses.