WEST BRANCH – Lyme disease is an emerging disease in Michigan that could be reduced if residents know how to protect themselves.

According to District Health Department No. 2 (DHD2), local risk for Lyme disease varies depending on whether infected ticks are in the area. Several regional and state agencies partner to conduct surveillance for Lyme disease in people and animals.

Many tick-borne diseases can be treated if caught early, according to a press release from DHD2. Be sure to tell your primary care doctor if you have any history of tick bites. Ticks feed on the blood of animals, such as deer, rodents, rabbits, and birds, and will bite humans too. Ticks can live in grassy or wooded areas and on the animals they feed off.

Tick season in Michigan is typically from March to November.

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