Dr. Ann Lindsay, Health Officer of the Humboldt County Health and Human Services Public Health Branch, warns residents and visitors who are taking part in outdoor activities to take precautions to prevent tick bite-related illness, such as Lyme disease.

”As the weather changes, I encourage people to take steps to reduce their exposure to ticks when they go outdoors to hike, camp and take part in other activities,” Lindsay said. Ticks are small, insect-like creatures that are found in grassy areas throughout California. They like cool and moist places.

Ticks are often found in shaded grasses, shrubs and leaf litter. Spring is when the young tiny nymph form is active.

While Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in California, tick bites can cause a variety of human illnesses.

People may become infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease when they are bitten by an infected western black-legged tick. This tick is the only one in California that transmits Lyme disease and it will attach to humans and other animals, feeding on blood over several days. Early symptoms of Lyme disease often include a spreading rash and flu-like symptoms such as fever and body aches.

Individuals who

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find a tick can bring it to the Humboldt County Public Health Lab for free western black-legged tick identification. The tick must be whole, and in a container kept moist by a water-dampened piece of paper towel. For information on tick identification, call the Public Health Lab at 268-2179.

When in areas where ticks may be found, the following steps should be taken to reduce exposure to tick bites:

* Stay on the trail

* Wear light-colored clothing so ticks can easily be seen

* Wear long pants and longsleeved shirts. Tuck pant legs into boots or socks and tuck shirts into pants.

* Use a repellent known for use against ticks

* Inspect yourself often for ticks while in tick habitat, especially on the scalp

Additional information, including photos, is at www.cdph.ca.gov.