According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):  Lyme Disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythma migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

 

Most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see; they feed during the spring and summer months.  Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but they are much larger and are more likely to be discovered and removed before they have time to transmit the bacteria. Ticks can attach to any part of the human body but are often found in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted.

 

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Ticks live in grassy, bushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening, or hunting could bring you in close contact with ticks. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood.