Lyme disease is an illness that can make you feel like you have the flu. It can also cause a rash or fever, as well as nerve, joint, or heart problems. People can get Lyme disease after being bitten by a tiny insect called a tick. The tick that carries Lyme disease is the Ixodes tick, more commonly called the “deer tick” or “blacklegged tick.” When a deer tick bites you, it can pass the germ that causes Lyme disease from its body to yours. In most cases, you will only become infected if a tick stays attached for at least a day and a half.