A tiny spiral-shaped bacterium transmitted by the bite of an infected deer tick causes Lyme disease. The most common sign of the disease is an expanding red rash at the site of the tick bite. Some people do not develop the rash. Lyme disease symptoms may also include fever, headache or muscle aches. Very few, if any, people die from Lyme disease.
Ticks attach when people brush against vegetation.
They cannot jump or fly. Infected deer ticks are most common in the New England and Mid-Atlantic States. Experts recommend four steps to prevent Lyme disease. First, do not walk through high grass and weeds. Avoid brushing against over-hanging vegetation.