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Ticks Are on the Move. Here Are the Risks in Your Region.
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- Summer marks peak tick season in the U.S., increasing the risk of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease and spotted fevers.
- Traditionally, the Northeast has faced the highest risk from blacklegged ticks spreading Lyme disease, while the Southeast contends with lone star ticks linked to red meat allergy.
- Changes in deer populations, land use, and climate are expanding the range of various tick species and the diseases they carry into new regions.
- In the Northeast, Lyme disease cases and other tick-borne illnesses like babesiosis and Powassan virus are rising, partly due to growing white-tailed deer populations that support tick survival.
- These environmental shifts are bringing ticks closer to suburban and urban areas, increasing exposure risks for residents.
