May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month.

The month is set aside to bring awareness and education to people about Lyme Disease and how they can prevent it. Nurse Judi Van Hulzen with Marion County Public Health tells KNIA/KRLS News May is a good month to bring awareness of Lyme Disease because spring is the time ticks are most active and people are also taking any chance they can to get outside to enjoy nature. According to Van Hulzen, residents should wear bug spray and proper clothing when walking in wooded areas where ticks are more prevalent. Van Hulzen says people should remove the tick right away if bitten and that a typical indicator of Lyme Disease can be a rash in the shape of a bullseye around the bite area. Van Hulzen adds, residents should see a doctor right away if they suspect they could have Lyme Disease so they can be properly treated.