Now that spring is here, people are spending much more time outdoors. But with that extra time outdoors comes the danger of encountering ticks that can carry serious illnesses, including Lyme disease.
According to State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha), the Illinois House of Representatives marks May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month to help people in the state learn how to avoid ticks, prevent Lyme disease, and recognize and treat the symptoms.
Swanson says about 40% of black-legged ticks tested are found to be positive for Lyme disease, and cases of residents being treated continues to climb in Illinois.
Nationwide, there are around 476,000 new cases of the disease reported each year.
Swanson says if a person is infected with Lyme, the first symptoms can often present as very general and can be easily mistaken for other illnesses. Fatigue, fever, chills, headache and minor joint pain are some of the common initial symptoms.
Swanson encourages residents to visit the Illinois Lyme Association’s website.