What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria that’s usually passed on to humans through a bite from an infected black-legged or deer tick. Symptoms can occur anywhere from 3 to 30 days after the bite, and symptoms can be wide-ranging, depending on the stage of the infection.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

According to CDC, the early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Rashes are also a prominent sign of Lyme Disease, which were reportedly seen in about 70-80% of patients that have dealt with this condition.

Who are the ones most prone to Lyme disease?

Individuals who work outdoors are more vulnerable to Lyme disease. Click To Tweet

Individuals who work outdoors are more vulnerable to Lyme disease. Employees involved in construction, landscaping, forestry, brush clearing, land surveying, farming, railroads, oil fields, utility lines, or park and wildlife management, and other professions that are mildly or thoroughly exposed to heat and rugged working environments are also in danger of picking up this illness.

How to protect yourself from contacting Lyme disease?

According to CDC workers can:

• Wear long sleeves; tuck pant legs into socks or boots.
• Wear high boots or closed shoes that cover your feet completely.
• Wear a protective headgear.
• Use tick repellants, but not on your face.
• Shower after work. Wash and dry your work clothes at high temperature.
• Examine your clothes, equipment, and body after work.
• Take workplace safety training courses