Lyme disease cases rising in New Jersey
NEW JERSEY (FOX5NY.COM) - Lyme disease is on the rise in New Jersey. More than 5,000 cases were reported in 2017, the highest in 17 years, state health officials say. May, June, and July are the peak month for tick-borne diseases like Lyme.
Local and state officials are urging the public to be vigilant this spring and summer. They say you should check yourself, your children, and your pets every day for ticks.
Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the state health commissioner, has other recommendations: keep your property's grass cut and underbrush thinned and apply insect repellent on your skin, clothing, boots and camping gear.
Symptoms of Lyme disease can include, among other things, chills, fever, a bulls-eye rash, headache, muscle pain, and joint pain. Dr. Elnahal said Lyme disease, if caught early, is treatable with antibiotics but you really want to prevent it instead.
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Vector-Borne Illness Information