All articles tagged with #tick borne diseases
Ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other illnesses; this explainer covers why ticks bite, how to prevent bites in yards and on hikes, the steps to safely remove a tick if bitten, yard-management tactics to reduce tick habitats, and when to seek medical care if symptoms develop.
Emergency room visits for tick bites began rising in March and remained high through April–June 2026, with the surge linked to warmer temperatures that are expanding tick habitats. Ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme and Alpha-gal syndrome; prevention includes removing ticks quickly (within 24 hours), using permethrin on clothing and skin repellents, wearing long, light-colored clothing, and checking pets and yourself after outdoor time. The Northeast and Midwest bear most cases, but tick ranges are broadening and risk remains nonzero even in familiar areas.
Tick season is intensifying as ER visits for tick bites surge to decade-high levels and Powassan virus spreads in deer ticks, while Pfizer and Valneva advance a four-dose Lyme disease vaccine toward regulatory approval with about 75% efficacy in reducing cases.
Warmer temperatures are extending the tick season across much of the United States, and Powassan virus—while still rare—has been on the rise as a tick-borne threat with potentially serious symptoms, underscoring the importance of tick prevention and public-health awareness.
A mild winter and warmer spring are expected to boost tick activity in Colorado in 2026, with the main tick diseases being Colorado tick fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (rare). Lyme disease is not established in Colorado, but travelers to the East should beware. Ticks can also cause alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy linked to tick bites. Prevention tips include EPA-registered repellents, permethrin-treated clothing, frequent tick checks, showering after outdoor time, and submitting ticks for state surveillance.
As tick season peaks in New England, emergency visits for tick bites are rising and cases of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome are increasing, but experts emphasize that outdoor activity can continue with proven prevention strategies to minimize tick encounters.
MDHHS data flag five Michigan hotspots—Sleeping Bear Dunes, Menominee River Corridor, Fort Custer Recreation Area, Porcupine Mountains, and Warren Dunes State Park—where blacklegged ticks and American dog ticks thrive in leaf litter, brush, and dense forests, elevating Lyme disease and other tick-borne illness risks. The article notes public health guidance, the species involved, and prevention steps (tick checks, repellents, showers, and changing clothes) plus resources like the MiTracking dashboard for updates.
Warmer temperatures and more outdoor activity are driving a rise in tick bites and tick-borne illness visits in Minnesota, with Lyme disease most common and ticks expanding north due to climate change. Not all ticks carry disease, but exposure is increasing along trails and wood edges. Research on tick microbiomes and hosts like white-footed mice aims to explain transmission; a Lyme vaccine is in development. Prevention includes repellents, showering after outdoor activities, and drying clothing; healthcare providers may prescribe doxycycline post-exposure within 72 hours for attached blacklegged ticks. Stay vigilant during the outdoor season.
CDC data show tick bites are rising nationwide, with Oregon facing its worst tick season since 2017 as ER visits climb; infections like Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome can lead to hospitalization, and Alpha-gal can trigger a lifelong red-meat allergy. To reduce risk, use EPA-approved tick sprays with 0.5% permethrin on clothing and gear, avoid dense brush, stick to trails, and perform thorough tick checks after outdoor activity; nymphs are tiny and can hide in body folds, so quick removal within 24–48 hours lowers transmission risk.
A mild Utah/Idaho winter has boosted tick populations, increasing the risk of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Health experts urge precautions when outdoors: use EPA-approved DEET repellent (20%+), wear light-colored long sleeves and closed shoes, avoid tall grasses, and perform thorough tick checks on people, pets, and clothing. To reduce tick activity around homes, maintain lawns, trim vegetation, remove leaf litter, create a 3-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel around play areas, and deter wildlife. If a tick is found, remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, avoiding the mouthparts, and seek medical care if part remains embedded or symptoms appear. As warmer weather arrives, tick activity is expected to rise; for more guidance, consult the University of Idaho extension in Bannock County.
CDC data show April 2026 tick-bite ER visits rose to about 71 per 100,000—more than double the historical average of 30—marking the highest seasonal level in years and highest among children under 10 and adults 70–79. The surge coincides with expanding ranges of the blacklegged and lone star ticks, driven by warmer, wetter conditions and deer/mouse hosts, raising risk for Lyme disease and other infections (anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus). There are no vaccines for tick-borne diseases in the U.S.; prevention emphasizes repellents, permethrin-treated clothing, tick checks, prompt removal, and showering after outdoors exposure.
A Marshfield Clinic-led study through the Tick Inventory via Citizen Science found that 51% of 707 non-engorged adult female deer ticks tested in 2024 carried Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, with additional data from 2024–25. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the Upper Midwest, and ticks can carry other pathogens; climate shifts are expanding tick ranges, increasing human exposure risk; researchers emphasize mapping pathogen prevalence to guide public health responses.
CDC data suggest this year’s tick season could be the worst in years, with tick-bite ER visits running higher than average across most U.S. regions in 2026 and the Northeast leading; about 114 visits per 100,000 in late April. Roughly 31 million Americans are bitten annually and around 476,000 are treated for Lyme disease. Experts attribute factors like milder winters, earlier springs, snow insulation for ticks, and variable acorn mast years that boost wildlife hosts, which can fuel tick populations and disease. Prevention and tick checks are essential.
Emergency department visits for tick bites have risen by more than 25% nationwide, with Maryland at the forefront as warmer weather expands tick habitats. Lyme disease remains the top threat, with tens of thousands of U.S. cases in 2023 and Maryland reporting over 2,400 cases in 2023 and more than 3,000 in 2024; ticks can also spread other diseases and alpha-gal syndrome. Health experts urge prevention—using EPA-approved repellents, wearing protective clothing, treating gear with permethrin, showering after outdoors, and performing tick checks—while noting there are no vaccines for most tick-borne illnesses, though a Lyme vaccine shows promise for the future.
A CDC tick-bite tracker shows an early, larger-than-usual surge in emergency department visits across the U.S., rising from 28 to 114 bite-related visits per 100,000 between March and April as warmer spring weather expands tick activity and ranges. Tick-borne illness risk is driven by the black-legged tick (Lyme disease) and the lone star tick (red meat allergy), with spread into new areas. Most bites don’t require ED care; prompt tick removal is advised and doctors may treat suspected infections with doxycycline before tests return. Tick season generally runs March through October, peaking in late May, with about 31 million bites annually and Lyme disease affecting roughly 476,000 people each year.