The New York State Department of Health, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation remind New Yorkers, visitors and everyone who enjoys the outdoors of the importance of protecting against ticks and tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease.
“As the weather warms up and we get outside, it’s important to take precautions to protect against diseases, such as Lyme disease, that can be transmitted by infected ticks,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “Ticks can be found in most areas of New York and the best way to prevent infections that can cause serious illness is to follow simple methods to avoid being bitten. Remember to protect yourself throughout the day and use protective clothing and repellent to help keep you safe and healthy.”
Even though ticks are still active in cooler temperatures, the arrival of spring and approaching warmer weather mean ticks will become more prevalent. Bites from an infected tick can transmit several diseases, including Lyme disease, the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in the State. Over the last 3 years, the State has averaged more than 17,500 new cases of Lyme disease each year, with more than 19,000 cases reported in 2023 alone.
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted by infected blacklegged (deer) ticks (both nymphs and adults), which are most active when temperatures are above freezing. Lyme disease can affect people of any age and is spread when an infected tick bites a person and remains attached for 36 hours or more.
The most common symptom of Lyme disease is an expanding rash resembling a bull’s eye or solid patch, that appears near the site of a bite. Flu-like symptoms such as fever or chills and muscle aches, headache, or fatigue may also occur within 30 days of infection. If these symptoms develop, it’s important to seek treatment from a health care provider immediately.
Tick bites can also transmit other diseases. Since 2015, the Department has reported an average of 600 babesiosis infections and an average of 1,300 anaplasmosis infections each year, as well as cases of more rare diseases such as ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Powassan virus disease. All these diseases can vary in severity, but without treatment, they can cause serious illness and even death. Prompt tick removal is important as transmission of these diseases can occur more quickly than Lyme disease. Powassan virus is able to be transmitted within 15 minutes of a tick bite.
New Yorkers should continue to take measures to protect themselves, their children, and their pets against all ticks and tick-borne diseases that are present in New York State.
While hiking, working, or spending time in wooded areas, follow these simple steps to help prevent tick bites:
- Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed-toed shoes.
- Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
- Check for ticks often while outdoors and brush them away before they attach.
- Perform a full body check multiple times during the day, as well as at the end of the day, to ensure that no ticks are attached.
- Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors.
- Shower soon after coming indoors.
- Remember to check pets thoroughly for ticks after spending time outdoors and talk to your veterinarian about ways to reduce ticks on your pet.
- Consider using EPA-registered repellents labelled as effective against ticks containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535, and follow label instructions. If you are using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
If you find an attached tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it right away. Avoid risky removal strategies such as detergent or burning, as these could increase your risk of infection. See the Department of Health’s website for a video on proper tick removal technique.
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