Tag

Ticks

All articles tagged with #ticks

health4 days ago•15 min saved

From Dog Ticks to Human Vaccines: A Growing Push to Prevent Lyme Disease

Lyme disease cases are rising as ticks expand due to climate change, and there are currently no licensed vaccines for people, though several are advancing. Pfizer/Valneva's four-dose PF-07307405 vaccine showed over 70% efficacy in a large phase 3 trial; Moderna is testing two Lyme vaccines in phase 2; Yale is exploring a tick-saliva–targeting approach; and Tonix's TNX-4800 antibody injections are in early trials, with Tarsus pursuing an oral pill. In dogs, tick protection is common, while preventive strategies for humans emphasize avoiding tall grass, protective clothing, and thorough tick checks. A prior human vaccine, LYMErix, disappeared in 2002 due to safety concerns and low demand.

via BBC|

#health #lyme-disease #pfizer

health6 days ago•7 min saved

Illinois Faces Surge in Tick-Linked Alpha-Gal Allergy

Illinois is seeing an uptick in alpha-gal syndrome, a life-threatening meat allergy triggered by lone-star tick bites as tick habitats expand in the Midwest. Symptoms typically appear 2–6 hours after consuming meat or dairy and can range from mild to severe; AGS is caused by an immune response to a sugar found in most mammal meat, not a bacteria or virus. Awareness by health officials is rising, with the Illinois Department of Public Health noting reported cases and CDC estimates suggesting hundreds of thousands may be affected overall. Treatments have long centered on avoiding red meat and carrying an epinephrine injector, with a newly approved drug offering an additional option while tick species like lone star and blacklegged ticks continue to circulate in Illinois.

via NBC Chicago|

#alpha-gal-syndrome #health #illinois

health9 days ago•2 min saved

Maine records fourth Powassan case in 2026, underscoring tick-borne threat

Maine’s CDC confirms a fourth Powassan virus case in 2026, the second in Penobscot County (with additional cases in Lincoln and York counties), highlighting the state’s ongoing tick-borne illness risk. Powassan is a rare but potentially deadly brain infection transmitted quickly by deer ticks, with about 10% of severe cases resulting in death. Maine has seen multiple cases and deaths since 2015, including a 2024 fatality, while nationwide cases typically total 20–50 annually (2018–2023).

via WMTW|

#health #infectious-disease #maine

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

science16 days ago•8 min saved

Acorns Signal Lyme Risk More Than Deer Counts

A long-term study in New York’s Hudson Valley finds deer abundance does not predict Lyme disease risk; acorn-driven mouse populations and the broader small-mammal community shape tick abundance and infection, making acorn cycles a key predictor of future risk, with warmer years altering these dynamics.

via CIDRAP|

#acorns #ecology #lyme-disease

health16 days ago•8 min saved

Hiking in Tick Country: The US Parks Battling Lyme Disease

A health-focused ranking of U.S. state parks by tick-borne illness risk, highlighting Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest sites where deer, mice, and infected ticks overlap. Parks named include Pine Grove Furnace (PA), Green Lakes and Harriman (NY), Round Valley (NJ), Devil's Lake (WI), Jay Cooke and Itasca (MN), Starved Rock and Mississippi Palisades (IL), and Ridley Creek (PA). The piece also shares research findings and patient anecdotes, and concludes with practical prevention tips (DEET, protective clothing, staying on trails, thorough body checks, and heat-treating clothing) to reduce tick exposure without avoiding outdoor recreation.

via WorldAtlas|

#health #lyme-disease #public-health

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

health18 days ago•10 min saved

Long Island ticks surge: how experts gauge this season's severity

Local experts say this tick season on Long Island may be among the worst yet, measuring severity through infection trends, tick counts, and environmental factors, while stressing prevention and thorough body checks to avoid Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

via Newsday|

#health #long-island #lyme-disease

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

health27 days ago•3 min saved

Long Island logs fourth tularemia case as rabbit fever rises

Suffolk County, Long Island, has confirmed a fourth case of tularemia (rabbit fever). The illness, caused by Francisella tularensis and spread mainly via wildlife and vectors like ticks and deer flies, is not contagious between people but can be severe if untreated. Officials note cases peak May–September and advise precautions: use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, check for and remove ticks promptly, avoid mowing over dead animals, avoid untreated surface water, handle wildlife with gloves, and seek medical care promptly if symptoms such as high fever, swollen lymph nodes, or skin ulcers appear.

via New York Post|

#health #long-island #rabbit-fever

health28 days ago•4 min saved

Tularemia Surfaces in New York: Tick-Linked 'Rabbit Fever' in Suffolk County

New York health officials report tularemia—often called rabbit fever—has appeared in Suffolk County with multiple cases in recent years (six in 2025, four in 2024, three in 2023), while New York City has seen only about 10 cases since 2000. The infection, transmitted by tick bites or contact with infected animals, can cause varied symptoms and may progress to pneumonia if untreated. It is treatable with antibiotics such as doxycycline. Prevention focuses on using EPA-registered insect repellents, wearing protective clothing outdoors, performing tick checks on people and pets, handling wildlife with gloves, and cooking game meat thoroughly.

via Gothamist|

#health #new-york-state #rabbit-fever

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•2 min saved

Three Probable Tularemia Cases Spotlight Tick-Borne Rabbit Fever on Long Island

Suffolk County health officials report three probable tularemia cases, a rare tick- or animal contact–transmitted infection also known as rabbit fever caused by F. tularensis. It is not spread person-to-person and can be contracted via tick or fly bites, direct contact with sick animals, contaminated water, or undercooked game. Symptoms include high fever, swollen lymph nodes, body aches, and a painful sore, typically appearing 3–5 days after exposure (up to 21 days). Treatment is with antibiotics; a vaccine exists only for lab workers and is not generally available. Prevention includes avoiding ticks with protective clothing and checks, wearing gloves when skinning game, and cooking meat thoroughly. Suffolk has seen several recent cases, with 2025 data not yet available, and officials warn of a potentially tougher tick season after a mild winter.

via WGAL|

#health #new-york #rabbit-fever

health1 month ago•3 min saved

Long Island Reports Three Probable Tularemia Cases as Tick-Borne Illnesses Rise

Three probable tularemia cases, also known as rabbit fever, have been identified in Suffolk County, Long Island, as tick-borne illnesses rise. The illness can be contracted through tick bites, handling infected animals, contaminated water, inhaled dust, or even mowing over dead animals, and diagnosis can take weeks. It is not spread person-to-person; antibiotics are typically effective, and prevention includes using insect repellent and avoiding contact with sick or dead animals.

via Axios|

#health #long-island #rabbit-fever

health1 month ago•3 min saved

Three Probable Tularemia Cases Reported on Long Island

Suffolk County, NY reports three probable tularemia cases (rabbit fever), likely acquired through tick or animal exposure; the illness is rare and not spread between people, with symptoms like high fever, swollen lymph nodes, body aches, and a painful sore. It is treatable with antibiotics, and prevention focuses on avoiding tick bites, safe handling of wildlife or game meat, and checking for ticks after outdoor activity.

via WMUR|

#health #new-york #rabbit-fever