Right now, probably more than any other time of year, it is important to be careful about deer ticks and the Lyme disease they carry. This is especially true if you live here in Loudoun County or the surrounding region, where Lyme disease has become a near-epidemic.
I heard today that two people I know (both residents of neighboring Clarke County) are currently being treated for Lyme, and it was around this time last year that I last came down with the infection. Apparently the deer or black-legged tick that carries Lyme disease is particularly active in the late spring and early summer.
The people I know who recently contracted Lyme are lucky in a way: they both had the "bullseye" rash that is a dead give away for Lyme infection. I had the rash the first time I got Lyme disease about seven years ago but last year didn't realize I'd been bitten by an infected tick until I came down with flu-like symptoms a couple weeks after the bite.
Left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to serious long-term health problems. But caught in time, it is effectively treated with antibiotics.
Be careful. Check for ticks and see a doctor if you think you might be infected.
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