Is Lyme Disease Contagious?

If you hear about rising cases in your community, you might wonder if Lyme disease is contagious. While it is the most common illness caused by insect bites in the United States—specifically, the bacteria spread by a tick bite—it cannot be passed from person to person through casual contact like being in the same room or kissing.

There are, however, a few other ways that Lyme can potentially be passed from one person to the next. Still, it is very unlikely.

This article reviews how Lyme disease spreads, what is known about human to human transmission, and whether Lyme spreads from animals to humans.

How to Tell If You Have Lyme

One of the telltale signs that doctors look for when diagnosing Lyme disease is a bull’s-eye-shaped rash. This rash continues to expand over the next one to four weeks, starting at the red dot from the original bite.

Common Lyme disease symptoms include:

• Body aches
• Extreme fatigue
• Fever
• Headaches
• Neck stiffness
• Swollen lymph nodes

If left untreated, more serious conditions, like arthritis, Bell’s palsy, and neuropathy, can develop. The vast majority of people who are treated for Lyme disease make a full recovery.

Tick to Human Lyme Disease Transmission

For Lyme disease to spread from a tick to a human, the infected tick must bite you and remain attached for at least 24 to 36 hours. The ticks, who often live in tall grass and wooded areas, cling to humans in places that are hard to detect. Most of the ticks that transmit Lyme disease are young (nymphs). These smaller, immature ticks are even harder to discover on the body.

Tick bites can happen almost all year round but are most common in the spring and summer months. There is no concrete evidence that a person can transmit Lyme disease to another human, except for the possibility of a pregnant person with untreated Lyme disease transferring the infection to their unborn child.

If you’re worried about contracting Lyme disease, take precautions to avoid ticks in the first place:

• Wear fully covering clothing when going outside (long pants, high socks, long sleeves).
• Walk in the middle of trails instead of on the sides near trees and brush.
• Avoid tall grass or areas with shrubs.
  

Is Lyme Disease Contagious Through Salvia or Blood?

Lyme disease cannot be passed from person to person through saliva. Kissing or sharing the same cup with an individual with Lyme disease is not cause for concern. Lyme disease cannot travel through saliva from one person to another.

Lyme disease is detectable in blood tests. Since it is present in the bloodstream, experts advise against donating blood until after completing the prescribed course of antibiotics. Delaying blood donation is a merely preventative measure, as there have been no reported cases of Lyme disease transmission through blood transfusions.

Can I Catch Lyme From My Pets?

Pet owners often worry about catching Lyme from a dog or cat.

Although pets can contract Lyme disease, no evidence suggests that dogs can spread their Lyme disease to humans. They can, however, carry infected ticks in from outside. These ticks can then bite and transmit the disease to you.

Just as you should check yourself over when you've come in from being in the yard or going on a hike, thoroughly checking your pets for ticks is also key. Pets can take preventive medications that help kill ticks before they get a chance to transmit infections.

If your pet is bitten by a tick and gets Lyme, you might worry that you'll catch it from them. There is no evidence that Lyme can be transmitted from pets to owners. However, it is possible that you and your pet could be bitten by the same tick that is carrying Lyme.

Is Lyme Transmitted Through Sex?

Research on the possible sexual transmission of Lyme disease has left some questions unanswered. It's not clear if humans can pass Lyme disease to each other through sexual contact.

The molecular structure of Lyme disease is similar to a strain of syphilis, so scientists think it's possible that transmission via mucous membranes could happen.

One study identified the presence of Lyme disease in the genital secretions of those who were infected, suggesting possible transmission between sexually active partners.

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that there is not enough scientific evidence to support the theory that Lyme disease may be sexually transmitted. The CDC suggests that it is more likely for sexual partners to contract a similar strain of Lyme through tick bites occurring around the same time, even if one partner was bitten unknowingly.

Can Lyme Disease Be Transmitted During Pregnancy?

If a pregnant person is infected and untreated, Lyme disease can pass to the fetus. With the proper use of antibiotics, people who are pregnant can avoid the adverse effects of Lyme for themselves and their babies.

There is no evidence of babies contracting Lyme through breast milk. If a breastfeeding person gets Lyme after pregnancy, there’s no reason to worry about transmission through breastfeeding.

If you get Lyme, let your healthcare provider know that you’re nursing, as they may prescribe you an antibiotic that’s safe for breastfeeding.

What to Do If You Get a Tick Bite

If you have a tick bite, remove the tick from your body as soon as possible. Use a pair of tweezers and remove the entire tick from your skin without crushing it. Once the tick is out, wash the site with soap and water.

Keep an eye on the area for a rash that slowly expands, leaving a target-shaped mark. Also, watch for fevers, chills, headaches, or muscle pains, which are all early signs of Lyme disease. If you experience any of these symptoms within 30 days of the bite, you should contact a doctor.

Fortunately, most cases can be treated with a two- to four-week course of oral antibiotics.

Summary

Lyme disease is not contagious like a cold or the flu. Lyme disease is transmitted by bacteria in the bite of black-legged ticks (deer ticks). They must remain attached for at least 24 hours to transmit the bacteria.

You can't catch Lyme from kissing someone with the infection. Scientists are not certain if Lyme can be passed through sex, but it seems to be extremely unlikely.

If a pregnant person gets Lyme they can pass it to the fetus if they don't get treatment. There is no evidence of Lyme being spread to babies through breastfeeding.

If you're worried that Lyme disease is contagious from animals to humans, know that there is no evidence that this can happen. While you can't catch Lyme from your pet, they can bring ticks into your home that might bite you.

A Word From Verywell

If you love hiking, gardening, or just being out in nature, there’s no reason to let ticks stop you from enjoying the great outdoors. Avoiding tick bites and checking your skin for signs of a bite will help you stay ahead of the dangers that can occur when Lyme disease goes untreated.