By the way, doctor: Is my Lyme disease vaccination still effective?
If you're going to be in an area where Lyme disease is common, wear long-sleeved shirts buttoned at the cuff and long trousers tucked into your socks. Try to avoid woods and high grass. Use an insect repellent containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide). Permethrin, a pesticide that's applied to clothing (but not the skin), is also effective. After you've been outdoors, run your clothes through the dryer for 15–20 minutes to kill any ticks on them. Closely inspect your body for ticks; ask a spouse or partner to check your back and other areas that you can't see.
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