The Greenwich Health Department is warning residents in southwestern Connecticut to be aware of ticks.

Officials say Connecticut is one of the top five states in the country reporting high numbers of Lyme disease cases. October and November also mark the peak season for ticks and tick bites, according to data accumulated over the last few years.

Recommended precautions include using a spray repellent containing DEET, checking yourself and your children regularly for bites, avoiding tall grassy areas, wearing clothing that keeps you completely covered and trying not to jump in piles of leaves.

The Greenwich Health Department will test ticks from all over southwestern Connecticut, and can provide results in seven days.