We love seeing our community out and active this summer — and we want to make sure you stay safe while doing it!

Lyme disease cases in Washtenaw County jumped 65% from 2024 to 2025 — that’s a significant increase, and it’s a good reminder for all of us to take a few extra precautions when we’re spending time outdoors. The good news? A little awareness goes a long way. Here are some simple steps to help protect you and your family:

• Dress for it. When you’re hiking, gardening, or just spending time in grassy or wooded areas, wear long sleeves and long pants. Tucking your pants into your socks isn’t the most fashionable look, but it works! 
  
• Use bug spray. Choose an EPA-registered repellent with DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 and apply it to exposed skin and clothing before heading out.
  
• Do a tick check. Make it a habit to check yourself, your kids, and even your pets after any time outside. Pay close attention to spots ticks love to hide — behind the knees, in the hair, under the arms, and around the waist.
  
• Remove ticks quickly. If you find one, don’t panic. Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it as soon as possible. The quicker it comes off, the lower your risk.
  
• Hop in the shower. A shower within a couple of hours of coming inside can help rinse off any ticks that haven’t attached yet.
  
• Tidy up your yard. Keeping your grass mowed and clea

If you do get a tick bite, keep an eye out for a bull’s-eye rash, fever, fatigue, headache, or muscle aches in the days and weeks that follow. These are common early signs of Lyme disease, and they can show up anywhere from 3 to 30 days after a bite. The great news is that when it’s caught early, Lyme disease responds very well to treatment.

Learn more about tick prevention, Lyme disease symptoms, and treatment at the Washtenaw County Health Department.

If you’re concerned about a bite, schedule an appointment with your provider and get checked out!

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