Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People Search Advanced Search Lyme Disease Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate Lyme Disease Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks. Laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tickborne diseases as well. Signs and Symptoms of Untreated Lyme Disease Signs and symptoms of illness... Treatment Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics... Diagnosis and Testing Recommended tests... Data and Statistics How many people get Lyme disease? Preventing Tick Bites Avoid getting infected... Transmission How ticks spread Lyme disease... Tick Removal and Testing How to remove a tick... Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome If symptoms persist after treatment... Health Care Providers Clinical care information, CME links, and references... Educational Materials Brochures, fact sheets, trail signs, and more... Lyme Disease Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) All about Lyme disease... Why is CDC concerned about Lyme disease? And what we’re doing to address these concerns… Tickborne Disease Information for Clinicians HHS Special Webinars on Lyme and Tickborne Diseases 2019: Emerging Issues in Tickborne Diseases 2017: Updates in Tickborne Disease Diagnostics 2016: Trends in Tickborne Diseases 2015: Vaccines for Lyme Disease – Past, Present, and Future 2014: Lyme Disease Persistence Helpful Links NEW! Webinar: Lyme Disease Updates and New Educational Tools for Clinicians Video: CDC Public Health Grand Rounds, Emerging Tickborne Diseases, March 21, 2017 Travel information Lyme Disease––Workplace Safety and Health Lyme Disease Spotlight – Emerging Infectious Diseases journal – CDC Social_govd Get Email Updates To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address What’s this? Submit Page last reviewed: August 30, 2021 Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD) HAVE QUESTIONS? Visit CDC-INFO Call 800-232-4636 Email CDC-INFO Open 24/7 CDC INFORMATION About CDC Jobs Funding Policies File Viewers & Players Other Languages Privacy FOIA No Fear Act OIG Nondiscrimination Accessibility Vulnerability Disclosure Policy CONNECT WITH CDC Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat Youtube Syndicate CDC TV RSS Email U.S. Department of Health & Human Services USA.gov CDC Website Exit Disclaimer external icon