Can You Get Lyme Disease from Eating Venison?

Can You Get Lyme Disease From Eating Venison?

When it comes to Lyme disease, most people are aware of the risk of contracting the infection from a tick bite. But what about eating venison? Is it possible to get Lyme disease from eating venison that has been infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease?

The answer is: it is possible, but it is very unlikely.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the risk of getting Lyme disease from eating venison, and we will discuss the steps you can take to reduce your risk of infection.

Can You Get Lyme From Eating Venison?

| Column | Data |
|—|—|
| Question | Can you get Lyme disease from eating venison? |
| Answer | No, you cannot get Lyme disease from eating venison. Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick. Venison is not a host for B. burgdorferi, so it cannot transmit the bacteria to humans. |
| Source | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |

Can You Get Lyme Disease From Eating Venison?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. The bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, can live in the blood of infected deer and other animals. When a tick bites an animal, it can pick up the bacteria and then transmit it to a human when it bites again.

So, can you get Lyme disease from eating venison? The answer is no, you cannot get Lyme disease from eating venison. This is because the bacteria that causes Lyme disease is not found in the meat of deer. However, it is possible to get Lyme disease from handling a deer that has been infected with the bacteria. If you come into contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected deer, you could potentially get infected with Lyme disease.

To protect yourself from Lyme disease, it is important to take precautions when handling deer, especially if you are hunting or processing venison. Here are some tips:

• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when working outdoors in areas where ticks are common.
• Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
• Use insect repellent that contains DEET or picaridin.
• Check yourself for ticks after spending time outdoors.
• Remove ticks promptly if you find them on your body.

If you are bitten by a tick, it is important to remove the tick as soon as possible. To remove a tick, use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it out slowly. Do not crush the tick, as this could release more bacteria into your body.

After removing the tick, wash the bite area with soap and water. You should also see your doctor to make sure that you do not have Lyme disease.

How to protect yourself from Lyme disease

In addition to the tips listed above, there are a number of other things you can do to protect yourself from Lyme disease:

• Avoid areas where ticks are common, especially during peak tick season (April-October).
• Walk in the center of trails, where there is less likely to be ticks.
• Avoid tall grass and brush, where ticks can hide.
• After spending time outdoors, check yourself for ticks.
• If you find a tick on your body, remove it promptly.

Prevention tips for hunters

Hunters are at an increased risk of getting Lyme disease because they spend a lot of time in wooded areas where ticks are common. Here are some tips for hunters to protect themselves from Lyme disease:

• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when hunting.
• Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
• Use insect repellent that contains DEET or picaridin.
• Check yourself for ticks after hunting.
• Remove ticks promptly if you find them on your body.

Prevention tips for consumers of venison

It is possible to get Lyme disease from handling a deer that has been infected with the bacteria. However, the risk of getting Lyme disease from eating venison is very low. This is because the bacteria that causes Lyme disease is not found in the meat of deer. However, it is still important to take precautions when handling venison, especially if you are processing the meat yourself. Here are some tips for consumers of venison to protect themselves from Lyme disease:

• Wear gloves when handling venison.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling venison.
• Cook venison thoroughly to kill any bacteria that may be present.

Resources for more information

• CDC website on Lyme disease: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/
• NIH website on Lyme disease: https://www.nih.gov/health-topics/lyme-disease
• Lyme Disease Association website: https://www.lymedisease.org/

  the answer to the question of whether or not you can get Lyme disease from eating venison is no. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that Lyme disease can be transmitted through the consumption of venison. However, it is important to note that there are other ways to contract Lyme disease, such as through a tick bite or contact with infected wildlife. If you are concerned about Lyme disease, it is important to take precautions to protect yourself, such as wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when hiking in wooded areas, using insect repellent, and checking yourself for ticks after being outdoors.