npr:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the actual prevalence of Lyme disease infections is 10 times higher than the number of reported cases.

“Tick-borne diseases are going up year after year, as the diseases expand to new areas around the country,” Lyle Peterson of the CDC told reporters in a recent conference call announcing the updated infection estimates. Lyme disease accounts for about 80 percent of the tick-borne illnesses in the U.S.

In the spring, tick nymphs — young versions that transmit most of the Lyme infections — are abundant. They’re tiny, no bigger than a pinhead or poppy seed, and tend to hang out in or near wooded areas, in brush or tall grass.

The ticks need a blood meal to stay alive. They tend to feed on small mammals, such as mice, or birds. But if you happen to brush against a stick, blade or stem they’re clinging to, they can easily hitch a ride on you. And you won’t feel a thing.

So, if you’re hiking in or near a wooded area, it’s wise to be on the lookout for nymphs on your skin or clothing when you get home. “They’re small, but they’re not invisible,” Thorne says.

She recommends light-colored clothing (to increase likelihood you’ll notice the darker fleck of an insect) and long sleeves. Insect repellent may help, but Thorne says the most effective strategy is a thorough tick check of your body after you’ve been in tick infested areas.

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Photo: Kenneth H Thomas/Science Source/Getty Images