Summer is here and we're spending more time in the great outdoors, but we must remember there are risks associated with having fun in the sun. One of those risks is contracting Lyme disease, a malady that is associated with the warmer months of each year.

This is the perfect time to recognize this disease as a public health threat and to work together to raise awareness of the importance of early detection and treatment.

Lyme disease is characterized by a skin rash, joint inflammation and flu-like symptoms, all caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted to humans through the bite of a deer tick.

The condition now known as Lyme disease was first identified in the United States in the town of Old Lyme, CT., in 1975. More than 16,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed each year nationwide.

The disease has been reported in 47 states, including New York, and many countries. Mice and deer are the most commonly infected animals that serve as hosts to ticks. Most infections occur in the late spring, summer and early fall.

Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms may mimic other diseases. A characteristic red rash usually occurs on the skin around the bite. However, the bite may go unnoticed. Joint inflammation as well as neurological and heart symptoms can occur a few months to years after the bite.

Risk factors for contracting Lyme disease include walking in high grass, participating in activities that increase tick exposure and having a pet that may carry ticks home.

For protection against Lyme disease, follow these steps:

* Avoid tick habitats by walking in the center of paths

* Dress properly if going into a tick habitat: wear light-colored clothes and tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants

* Perform full-body tick checks on all family members immediately after leaving a tick habitat

* Make sure to use proper tick repellent on skin and clothes

* Check pets frequently for ticks and use tick-control pet products

* If bitten by a tick and concerned about contracting Lyme disease, consult a doctor immediately.

Lyme disease is treatable. It is easier to treat when the infection is detected early, but the disease commonly responds to medication even in its later stages. Antibiotics are the treatment of choice for Lyme disease, but physicians will choose the best treatment for each patient.

All residents of the 17th Assembly District are urged to take the time to learn about Lyme disease. It's crucial that this illness be prevented and properly treated.