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Lyme disease is on the rise in Vermont. Here’s how to protect yourself and still enjoy the outdoors
VTDigger • • health
Key Points:
- Patti Casey leads a Vermont Agriculture program that monitors tick populations by collecting ticks from high-risk outdoor areas, providing crucial data on tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease.
- Lyme disease is prevalent in Vermont, with 51% of tested deer ticks positive from 2020 to 2024 and the state reporting 2,246 cases in 2025, making it second highest in the U.S. for Lyme disease incidence.
- The rise in Lyme disease cases is attributed to ticks expanding northward, increased awareness and testing, climate change extending tick activity periods, and greater human exposure due to more outdoor trails and recreation areas.
- Preventive measures include wearing permethrin-treated clothing, drying clothes immediately after outdoor exposure, showering to remove ticks, and monitoring for symptoms; tick identification services are available for Vermonters.
- Despite the risks, experts encourage enjoying outdoor activities with proper precautions, emphasizing that efforts to protect pollinators and manage tick exposure can coexist.
