As the weather warms up, people are spending more time outdoors, increasing their risk of encountering ticks that spread Lyme disease. The 2026 tick season is already booming, with emergency room visits due to tick bites at their highest level since 2017.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is caused by a group of bacteria called Borrelia, most often the species Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks, also called black-legged ticks, transmit the disease after feeding on an infected animal, usually a bird, mouse, or deer.

The tick must attach for 24-48 hours to transmit the bacteria causing Lyme disease. Early symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, which generally emerge within three to 30 days after a tick bite. A target or bull’s eye rash at the site of the tick bite is another classic symptom, occurring in about 70% to 80% of cases.

Prevention and Treatment

To prevent Lyme disease, use tick and insect repellents such as DEET and picaridin, and wear long-sleeve shirts and pants while outdoors. Remove outdoor clothes immediately and wash and dry them at high temperatures to kill any ticks that may have hitched a ride.

If you find a tick attached, pull it off with tweezers, holding them perpendicular to the skin. If you experience flu-like symptoms or see a bull’s eye rash, check with your healthcare provider about whether you should be treated with antibiotics.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.