Spring is here and so are the ticks that spread Lyme disease. Tick bites can be prevented, which is a good thing since they can cause up to 14 different diseases. My husband contracted six of those diseases from a single tick bite and eventually died from ALS. These nasty insects can compromise your autoimmune and central nervous system.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, that may develop after a bite from a Lyme-infected blacklegged tick. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 300,000 new cases of Lyme disease occur each year in the United States but only a fraction of these cases are reported to public health officials.

Of the nearly 900 tick species across the globe, eight are of major concern in the transmission of tick-borne diseases to humans in North America. The black legged tick is most common, but American Dog, Gulf Coast, Lone Star, and Rocky Mountain Wood ticks are out there, too.

Connecticut, where I live and where Lyme disease first occurred in 1975, ranks first in per capita incidence of tick-transmitted disease; Rhode Island, where my husband was bit, runs second. Ticks travel on dogs, humans, birds, deer and other wildlife, and pet ownership is associated with an increased risk of Lyme disease.

Here are tips to protect yourself:

• Use bug spray that has DEET (Off or Repel products) or Picaridin (Sawyer, Fisherman, Skin So Soft products).

• If you are walking in grassy wooded areas, tuck in your pants to socks and wear long sleeve shirts so that your skin is not exposed.

• You can treat your shoes and clothes with Permithrin, a synthetic pesticide that repels ticks. L.L. Bean and Cabela’s sell pretreated clothes and camping gear.

• Protect your pet. If you stopped your pet’s tick preventive over the winter, get it started again. Outdoor dogs and cats will likely be the first family members to find a tick and bring it home to you. Talk to your vet to decide the best product for your pet.

• Get professional treatment for your property to eliminate the threat of ticks in your outside living areas. This does not stop the threat elsewhere, but at least you can sleep at night not worrying about the ticks on your doorstep.

• Do a tick check every day. This is especially important for your children and pets since they normally spend the most time outside.