female WBLT Photo Credit: NIOSH/CDC

Western Black-Legged Ticks and Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is an infection transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected tick. In California, there are 48 tick species; however, the western black-legged tick (WBLT), Ixodes pacificus, is the primary carrier of the disease.

Though incidence of Lyme disease is low in this area, western black-legged ticks have been found in nearly all California counties and cases of Lyme disease have been confirmed in local counties. Early signs and symptoms of the disease include an expanding rash and flu-like symptoms (fever, aches, and/or fatigue).

Precautions

Ticks prefer to live in wooded areas. Persons entering such areas should adopt several protective measures including:

• Wear light colored clothing so ticks can be seen and removed before they attach to the skin.
• Wear long pants and long-sleeved clothing.
• Tuck pants into socks/boots and shirt into pants.
• Apply approved repellents around shoes, ankles, and on exposed skin.
• Inspect yourself and others (including pets) for ticks after an outing in wooded areas.

More Information

To learn more about ticks and Lyme Disease, please visit the folowing agency resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

California Department of Public Health

San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District

Santa Clara County Vector Control District