May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month. I have been diagnosed with Lyme disease and am currently being treated. This is a devastating and debilitating illness. The good news is that it is preventable. People that live in our area need to know about the dangers of this tickborne infection.

When hiking in wooded areas, preventive measures include using DEET repellent, wearing long sleeve shirts and pants tucked into socks and checking yourself and family members for ticks when you get home.

If diagnosed early, it can be relatively easy to treat. If it develops into latestage Lyme, like I have, it is much more difficult to get under control. If you have been sick with flu-like symptoms that persist, or an unusual illness that you can’t explain, please talk to your doctor about the possibility of Lyme disease.

Also, there is an interesting and educational video called “Under Our Skin” available at our local video store here in Staples. It talks about the controversial aspects of this disease. We need to be aware that Lyme poses a real threat to our health, but also that it is totally preventable.

I am more than happy to share information, so feel free to email me at jcuso@ msn.com.

Happy National Lyme Disease Awareness Month and don’t forget your DEET.
Jennifer Braun
Staples, Minn.