How is Lyme disease transmitted?

Not all ticks carry Lyme Disease, and not all deer ticks are infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Ticks can become infected if they feed on small animals that are infected. The disease can be spread when an infected tick bites a person and stays attached for a period of time.

Ticks Laying on a Ruler

(Image) From left to right: The deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) adult female, adult male, nymph, larva on a centimeter scale.

Different Sized Ticks Laying on Stomach

(Image) Adult Female Ticks: Ixodes (Deer Tick) - left and Dermacentor (Dog Tick) - right. Please note, ticks shown approximately three times actual size.

Show All Answers

1. What is Lyme disease?
2. What is the best way to remove a tick?
3. I just pulled a tick off of myself, what do I do?
4. How do people get Lyme disease?
5. What are the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease?
6. How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
7. How good is testing for Lyme disease?
8. How is Lyme disease treated?
9. When will a Lyme disease vaccine become available?
10. How is Lyme disease transmitted?
11. When do most people get Lyme disease?
12. Where will I find ticks?
13. What can I do to protect myself from getting Lyme disease?
14. I found a tick on me, now what do I do?
15. When do symptoms appear?