Santa Cruz County’s Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control Division warns this summer is the season for tick nymphs. Nymphs are smaller than adult ticks, and are more likely to carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. If ticks are found and removed promptly (within 24 hours) their chances of transmitting the disease is much lower. Lyme disease symptoms like a distinctive bullseye-shaped rash, fever, chills, and aches don’t appear until days or weeks after the tick is gone. There are only a handful of cases reported of Lyme disease in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties each year.
