The Shapiro Administration invites all first- through sixth-grade students in Pennsylvania to enter the 2024 Lyme Art Contest by creating a short video or poster focusing on the theme "Protect. Check. Remove." The annual contest aims to help students, Scout troops, and community youth programs learn how to prevent Lyme disease by educating them about ticks, including where these creatures live, how to prevent bites, and how to remove ticks that do bite.

Officials from the Departments of Health (DOH), Education (PDE), Environmental Protection (DEP), and Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) encourage young students to participate in the contest and help raise awareness of Lyme disease.

The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. on Friday, March 15. Contest information can be found at http://tinyurl.com/TickborneDiseaseArtContest24.

Finalists will be notified by mail and will be invited to an award ceremony at the state Capitol in May. In 2023, nine winners were recognized at a ceremony with representatives from DOH, PDE, and DCNR.

Pennsylvania has one of the highest annual counts of Lyme disease cases in the nation. Ticks are usually found in shrubs, weeds, leaf litter, and tall grasses, but can be found anywhere there is grass. When exploring outside, it is important to take the proper steps to lower one's risk of getting bitten; these steps include covering exposed skin, wearing light colors to help detect ticks, and using an EPA-approved insect repellent. Use permethrin spray on shoes, clothes, and gear as an added protection before spending time outdoors.

After being outside, people should check themselves and their children and pets thoroughly for ticks and remove any that they find. Then, people should shower to help remove any ticks they may have missed. Clothes may be put in the dryer on high heat to help kill any ticks that might still be stuck to the clothes.