MENDOCINO CO., 5/20/25 – May is Lyme Disease Month, and Mendocino County Public Health wants residents and workers to be aware of the disease and how it is spread through tick bites.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. It’s transmitted to humans when an infected deer tick bites a human.
Infections are most common in the spring and early summer, county public health said.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include headache, fever, fatigue and a distinctive skin rash. If left untreated, Lyme disease can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system.
County public health officials say Lyme disease can be prevented using insect repellent, checking for ticks and removing them promptly if found, showering after being outdoors, tumbling clothing on high heat in the dryer and reducing tick habitats through vegetation management.
The department asks that If you have experienced a tick bite and/or Lyme disease symptoms occur or, if you are pregnant and suspect you have contracted the disease, talk to your healthcare provider.
Mendocino County residents can have ticks identified and tested for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi. Costs range between $38 and $45 for testing. More information is available at https://www.mendocinocounty.gov/departments/public-health/nursing/communicable-diseases/ticks-and-lyme-disease.