Overview
- In early July health experts and federal agencies warned that tickborne diseases are increasing nationwide and urged people to follow CDC prevention steps before summer outdoor activities.
- The CDC recommends using EPA-registered repellents such as DEET, picaridin or IR3535, treating clothing and gear with permethrin, showering promptly after being outdoors, and performing full-body tick checks.
- Different tick species carry different threats: blacklegged (deer) ticks spread Lyme disease and Powassan, lone star ticks are linked to ehrlichiosis and the alpha-gal red‑meat allergy, and American dog and Rocky Mountain ticks transmit spotted fevers and other infections.
- Officials continue surveillance of the invasive Asian longhorned tick first found in the U.S. in 2017 and say tests are ongoing to determine whether it poses a direct human-health risk here.
- Emergency department visits for tick bites have surged this season and experts say warmer temperatures and expanding tick ranges mean more people and pets will need routine checks and quick tick removal to reduce illness risk.