Tag

Tick Borne Diseases

All articles tagged with #tick borne diseases

lifestyle12 days ago•30 min saved

Tick Eradication Isn’t Feasible: The Ecological and Public-Health Impasse

A NY Post piece examines the rising tick threat and why eradicating ticks is not practically or environmentally feasible. It highlights CDC data showing more tick bites, surveys the ecological risks of broad-spectrum controls, and reviews targeted strategies—deer and rodent management, biological controls, and experimental genetic approaches—while noting legal and ethical hurdles. The takeaway is that ticks cannot be eliminated quickly or cleanly; public health should focus on reducing exposure and advancing research rather than pursuing a wholesale tick purge.

via New York Post|

#ecology #lifestyle #lyme-disease

health18 days ago•6 min saved

Lyme-Carrying Ticks Expand Into Western North Carolina, UNC Study Finds

UNC-led surveillance in western North Carolina found about 40% of adult blacklegged ticks tested carried Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease bacterium, with 3 of 7 nymphs positive as well. Researchers collected 373 ticks from 25 homes in the Biltmore Forest area, and about 75% of ticks were blacklegged. The findings suggest Lyme risk is expanding southward into residential parts of western NC, underscoring the need for tick checks and preventive measures.

via WRAL|

#health #lyme-disease #tick-borne-diseases

health22 days ago•6 min saved

Lyme Disease Finds Southern Ground as Ticks Expand Southward

New CDC findings from Biltmore Forest, NC show 39.6% of tested deer ticks carried Borrelia burgdorferi and four ticks harbored Anaplasma phagocytophilum or Borrelia miyamotoi, with 17 Lyme cases in the area, illustrating that Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses are moving south; doctors are urged to consider these infections even in nontraditional areas amid testing gaps and rising tick ranges due to warming climates.

via NBC News|

#cdc #health #lyme-disease

health28 days ago•9 min saved

Urban Ticks Rise: Bourbon Virus Case Signals NYC’s Growing Tick Threat

A Long Island resident has been diagnosed with Bourbon virus—the first in the New York area—highlighting a broader rise of tick-borne diseases in urban settings as climate change and environmental disruption expand tick ranges. The piece notes Lyme disease remains the most common tick-borne illness, but ticks can carry multiple pathogens, and some infections can be serious or hard to diagnose. Prevention centers on protective clothing, repellents, and regular tick checks for people and pets, with vaccines currently limited.

via Slate|

#bourbon-virus #climate-change #health

health1 month ago•4 min saved

Bourbon virus reappears in New York, spotlighting diagnostic gaps amid tick season

A Stony Brook–led study confirms Bourbon virus cases in New York linked to lone star ticks, with antibodies detected in some patients. First identified in 2014 and associated with severe illness, the virus has no commercial test, vaccine, or targeted treatment, making diagnosis difficult and often leading to misattribution (e.g., Lyme disease). The findings come as tick bites and related ER visits rise nationwide, underscoring the need for better diagnostics and awareness of tick-borne threats.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|

#bourbon-virus #diagnostic-challenges #health

health1 month ago•14 min saved

Keep ticks at bay: practical ways to prevent bites in your yard and on trails

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.

via The Conversation|

#health #lyme-disease #outdoor-safety

health1 month ago•4 min saved

Early tick surge expands across the U.S. as warming reshapes habitats

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.

via Salina Post|

#alpha-gal-syndrome #climate-change #health

health2 months ago•9 min saved

Tick Season Heats Up as Infections Rise and Lyme Vaccine Nears Approval

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.

via Daily Kos|

#health #lyme-disease #public-health

health2 months ago•19 min saved

Powassan virus: rising tick-borne threat as US tick season lengthens

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.

via The Washington Post|

#disease-outbreaks #health #infectious-diseases

health2 months ago•9 min saved

Colorado braces for a busy tick season as mild winter boosts tick activity

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.

via The Colorado Sun|

#alpha-gal-syndrome #colorado #health

health2 months ago•1 min saved

Practical tick protection: what really wards off ticks, say experts

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.

via The Boston Globe|

#health #massachusetts #new-england

health2 months ago•4 min saved

Tick-Heavy Hubs: 5 Michigan Parks to Watch for Tick-Borne Disease

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.

via WorldAtlas|

#health #lyme-disease #michigan

health3 months ago•6 min saved

Warm Weather Sparks Minnesota Tick Surge as Outdoor Activity Rises

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.

via MPR News|

#climate-change #health #lyme-disease

health3 months ago•4 min saved

Tick-bite Spike in Oregon Brings Lyme and Red-Meat Allergy Risks

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.

via KGW|

#alpha-gal-syndrome #health #lyme-disease

outdoors3 months ago•11 min saved

Mild Winter Spurs Tick Surge: Precautions for Outdoors

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.

via KSL News|

#idaho #outdoor-safety #outdoors