All articles tagged with #ticks
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Suffolk County, NY, reports three probable tularemia cases (rabbit fever), a rare infection linked to tick bites or contact with sick wildlife; symptoms can include fever and swollen nodes and are treatable with antibiotics. Officials emphasize tick prevention and safe handling of animals and game meat to reduce risk as tick season approaches.
Three probable tularemia cases (rabbit fever), a rare tick- and wildlife-borne illness, have been reported in Suffolk County on Long Island. Lab confirmation can take weeks, and diagnosis combines tests with clinical/epidemiologic criteria. The cases come during a notably bad tick season; prevention tips include wearing protective clothing and avoiding sick or dead wildlife, with antibiotics effectively treating the infection. Nationwide, about 200 tularemia cases occur each year, and NYS has not confirmed any cases in 2026 so far.
New research confirms Bourbon virus—an ultra-rare, tick-borne pathogen with no cure—exists in New York. In a study of 107 patients with suspected tickborne illness, investigators found one confirmed case in a Long Island man who was hospitalized but recovered; serology showed two people with neutralizing antibodies and a third with a rising antibody titer suggesting a recent infection, indicating the virus may be underdiagnosed in the region as lone-star ticks expand northward. The findings underscore the need for expanded viral surveillance, better clinical testing, and vector management, alongside standard tick-avoidance precautions since there is no specific treatment or vaccine.
Suffolk County health officials are investigating three probable tularemia cases, a rare disease also known as rabbit fever that can be transmitted to humans by ticks and flies from sick wild rabbits. The alert emphasizes awareness and preventive measures to reduce tick- and fly-borne transmission.
Climate change, land-use shifts, and rising deer populations are expanding tick habitats across the United States, leading to more tick bites and the spread of diseases such as Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome, while changing how people spend time outdoors and challenging public health responses.
The University of New Hampshire has secured an $8 million National Science Foundation grant to study ticks, the diseases they spread, and the environments they thrive in, focusing on blacklegged deer ticks, American dog ticks, and winter ticks. Researchers will deploy 22 stations across New Hampshire to monitor ticks year-round and assess how factors like snow cover affect survival and transmission, with the work spanning four years and involving undergraduate students. The effort addresses rising tick activity and high Lyme disease rates in the region.
Tick bites are rising in the US and UK due to climate-driven expansion of tick habitats and suburban land-use changes, with Lyme disease cases up in both regions. Practical prevention includes performing regular tick checks after outdoor activity, showering to wash off unattached ticks, and removing any attached tick with fine-tipped tweezers within 24 hours; save the tick for potential testing and seek medical advice for possible antibiotic prophylaxis if bitten. Additional tips include using repellents, wearing protective clothing, landscaping to reduce tick habitat, and consulting a clinician if symptoms develop in the weeks after a bite; pet owners should also check animals for ticks.
A Maine adult in Lincoln County tested positive for Powassan virus, the third confirmed case in Maine this year, while a Cumberland County wild bird tested positive for West Nile virus—the state's first this year. Powassan is a rare but potentially deadly tick-borne brain infection that can transmit quickly after a bite; about 10% of severe cases die, and researchers are studying how ticks survive Maine winters.