What to do if you're bitten by a tick in Washington state

State of play: Washington is home to multiple tick species that can spread disease, according to the state Department of Health.

• In addition to Lyme disease, ticks found here can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis and hard-tick relapsing fever, per the health department.

What to expect: If you find a tick attached to your body, the best way to remove it is to position tweezers between your skin and the tick's mouth and tug gently to remove the whole thing.

• Don't squish it — the state health department recommends that you save it for identification, if possible, by putting it into a crush-proof container.
• You can submit it following the instructions on this online form.
• If you aren't able to submit the tick or leave it behind in an outdoor location, the health department recommends flushing it down the toilet.

What they're saying: "Because different tick species transmit different diseases, knowing the tick species may help a health care provider diagnose an illness that could be associated with a tick bite," per the health department website.

The big picture: Most Lyme cases caught early can be treated with antibiotics, though they're not always effective.

• People with late-stage Lyme disease often experience symptoms ranging from paralysis and neurological problems to inflammation of the brain and heart.