Nou rayi tik, tou. Men Kijan pou pwoteje tèt ou, anpeche Mòde, ak Maladi trete.

The mere thought of ticks makes our skin crawl. These vile little creatures transmit diseases such as Lyme, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and the rare (but disconcertingly quaintly named) Heartland virus. Symptoms of tick-borne illnesses can range from swollen joints to meat allergies. About 50,000 cases of tick-borne illnesses are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention every year. Lyme, the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the US, is potentially debilitating and can be difficult to diagnose. In March, the CDC reported that Babesiosis, which can present asymptomatically or with flu-like symptoms, has been on the rise in the Northeast and Midwest over the last few years. Since prevention is better than any treatment, here’s what to keep in mind as you head outdoors this summer.

Prevent a tick bite

Gwo bwòs oswa zòn bwa yo gen tandans pòte tik, men li pa jis bwa yo gwo twou san fon ki ka yon pwoblèm. Yon atik Syans 2018 popilè gen kèk bon enfòmasyon sou evite plant ki pa natif natal tankou japonè, ki ka yon lame pou tik. New York Times jadinaj kolòn Margaret Roach ap konsidere achte TheTickSuit, yon tèt-a-cheviy koton sote ki fèt yo dwe yon baryè fizik espesyalman pou jadinaj.

Wear permethrin-treated clothing. It’s best to cover up when you’re hiking—put on long pants, sleeves, and a hat, if possible. If you want to treat your own shoes and clothes, we recommend Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent Clothing & Gear in our guide to the best bug repellents; you need to reapply it after about six washings, or every six weeks. (Note that permethrin is very dangerous to cats when wet, so keep your furry friends away from it until it dries.)

Some permethrin sprays are made for a yard or for agricultural use. Since those formulas are meant to be sprayed on plants, they won’t stick to your clothes as effectively, according to Thomas Mather, aka The Tick Guy, director of the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Vector-Borne Disease and the TickEncounter Resource Center.