What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme Disease is an infection caused by a spirochete [spy'-ro-keet], which is a type of bacteria. The disease is carried primarily by “Black-Legged Ticks” (also commonly known as “deer ticks”), and can be transmitted to both animals and humans through tick bites. In New Jersey, this tick is primarily responsible for the spread of Lyme disease.
Hunterdon County continues to have one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the country, most likely due to its heavily-wooded environment and high deer population.
Because of these facts, it is important that county residents be particularly aware of the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, and that we learn to follow a few simple precautions to help protect ourselves and our families.
- To get a printable tick identification card, click here [pdf file - Adobe Acrobat Reader Required]
- For more information and to get a Lyme Prevention fact sheet for parents, link to the County Website Page on Lyme Disease
- Also on the web visit, The Lyme Disease Network
