The ticks are winning

Key Points:

• Ticks are rapidly expanding their range across the United States due to climate change, increasing deer populations, and changing land use, resulting in more tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome.
• Lyme disease cases have more than doubled over the past decade, with about half a million people treated annually, making it the fastest-growing vector-borne disease in the US.
• Despite ticks causing 90% of vector-borne disease cases, only about 10% of local health agencies focus on tick control, with most resources still directed toward mosquito management.
• Experts suggest that controlling deer populations and developing vaccines targeting ticks in deer and rodents could be more effective than current methods, but funding and public health efforts remain insufficient.
• Individuals are advised to perform daily tick checks, use permethrin sprays, and remain vigilant, but larger-scale public health interventions are necessary to address the growing tick threat as warmer winters extend tick activity periods.