Frequently Asked Questions About Lyme Disease

What is my risk of exposure to Lyme Disease if I go camping, biking, golfing, gardening, etc. in Southeast Michigan?

I've found a tick on me (or my pet). What should I do?

What is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

What is my risk of exposure to Lyme Disease if I go camping, biking, golfing, gardening, etc. in Southeast Michigan?

All our surveillance data suggests that the risk of exposure to Lyme Disease in Southeast Michigan is low. Personal protective measures against biting ticks are advised as reasonable and prudent during the months of April through November (see Lyme Disease Fact Sheet).

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I've found a tick on me (or my pet). What should I do?

Don't panic. Remove tick promptly and gently (directions to remove are contained in Disease Fact Sheet). Submit tick, alive if possible, to the Health Division. Live ticks can be tested for the bacterium which causes Lyme Disease.

The site of the bite should be cleaned and disinfected as any minor wound. Should any symptoms occur, such as fever, muscle ache, fatigue or a rash at the site of the bite, the patient should be seen by a physician promptly. An expanding rash at the site of the tick bite may be the most reliable clue in the possible diagnosis of Lyme Disease.

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What is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

A rare virus that attacks the central nervous system, the disease occurs in horses each summer along the gulf and Atlantic coast, but also occurs in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Michigan. Human cases are rare, but can result in death. Transmission of this disease occurs through mosquitos. Symptoms include fever, facial swelling, and neurological dysfunction. (see Eastern Equine Encephalitis Fact Sheet)

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