A bad year for ticks is underway in many parts of the country, with milder winters and rainy springs contributing to their resurgence. Experts warn that these tiny critters can carry serious diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosis. According to Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, vigilance is key.
Climate change has altered tick behavior, causing them to emerge earlier and stay longer. While warmer months are their peak activity period, sightings have been reported even in January in some areas. Regions like New England and the Midwest remain hotspots for ticks, but previously unknown areas are now thriving as well.
Public health officials stress that cases of Lyme disease are on the rise, while instances of rarer tick-borne illnesses are also increasing. Co-infection rates add complexity to the issue, leading to more severe symptoms and delayed treatment. Experts recommend basic precautions like staying on trails, wearing light-colored clothing, and applying EPA-registered insect repellent.
Removing a tick promptly is crucial, with speeds being more important than methods. The longer a tick attaches, the higher the risk of transmission. Treatment with doxycycline can reduce infection risk by up to 87% if taken within 72 hours of a bite.
Ultimately, ticks are part of our natural environment, and respecting nature is essential for human health. Experts emphasize the need to integrate understanding of environmental factors into public health decisions, which have significant implications for building communities and reducing energy consumption.
Source: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/07/have-a-healthy-respect-that-nature-sometimes-bites-back