Country singer Brad Paisley sings about "checking you for ticks” and that is a good idea, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is tick season and the number of cases of Lyme disease nationwide has been increasing.
Scientists predict 2017 will bear the highest number of ticks in recent years, with a jump in reported cases of tick-borne illnesses in some regions of the U.S.
Georgia is a lower-risk area. We had only eight reported cases of Lyme disease in 2015, compared to the 30,000 cases nationally.
According to the CDC, roughly 95 percent of Lyme disease cases are reported in 14 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Even though the risk is low here in Georgia, you still need to be aware, says Rebecca Eisen, research biologist with the CDC's Division of vector-borne diseases.
She says, "Just do a simple daily tick check; when you are taking your shower, take a few extra minutes, check in the mirror, especially if you've been in the woods."
Eisen also says parents need to check their children as well.