The Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control and public health officials are warning the public about western black-legged ticks.
These ticks are primarily responsible for the spread of Lyme disease and other related illnesses within Santa Cruz County.
According to a survey by the county, 2% of Western black-legged ticks feature the bacteria responsible for causing Lyme disease.
So far, there have been 12 reported cases for the year of 2019.
Ways to prevent tick bites include wearing long-sleeved clothing, walking in the center of trails while avoiding tall grass or foliage, thoroughly shower after spending time outdoors, using tick repellant such as those with DEET, and washing your clothes with drying set to high heat.
If a tick has bitten you, removing it within 24 hours can prevent getting Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses.
