At their April 21 meeting, Northampton County Council members honored Palmer Township resident Cathy Gumlock, a retired school teacher, for her crusade against Lyme disease. She is a founding member of the Lehigh Valley Lyme Support Group, which meets the first Wednesday of every month at Country Meadows, 4011 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township, Building 1. That group seeks to improve the lives of those who suffer from Lyme disease.

Pennsylvania leads the nation in reported cases of Lyme disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common symptoms include headaches, fever, chills, aching joints, fatigue and a rash that looks like a bull’s eye at the site of the tick infection. Gumlock said those who suffer from summer flu might actually be experiencing Lyme disease.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Gumlock hopes to use the month of May to raise awareness and provide education about Lyme and nine other infections carried by the deer tick. She explained that tiny deer ticks usually latch on to people around their ankles, then work their way up the body to find a spot, usually around the belt line.

As she spoke, a lot of people began scratching themselves.

Preventive measures against ticks suggested by Mayo Clinic include

• Cover up. ...

• Use insect repellents. ...

• Do your best to tick-proof your yard. ...

• Check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks. ...

• Don’t assume you’re immune. ...

• Remove a tick as soon as possible with tweezers.