:NOTE
This is the worst tick season in nearly a decade. The CDC confirmed in April 2026 that emergency room visits for tick bites are running more than 25 percent above the same month last year, the highest rate since 2017. The season runs through October and peak exposure is right now.


:STATS

:INFO
Why Is 2026 So Bad?
Warmer, shorter winters are the primary driver. More ticks survive into the following year when temperatures stay mild, and the white-tailed deer population that hosts adult ticks has continued to grow at the suburban fringe. The combination has pushed tick habitat deeper into parks, backyards, and trail edges that were considered low-risk a generation ago. Connecticut alone is receiving around 30 tick submissions per day for disease testing.


:NOTE.half
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, carried mainly by the black-legged deer tick. Symptoms include the classic bull's-eye rash (erythema migrans), fever, fatigue, and joint pain. Caught early it responds well to a short course of antibiotics.
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:NOTE.half
The Northeast and Midwest account for the majority of US cases, but cases have been reported in all 50 states. The Southeast is seeing a faster rise in tick-borne spotted fever than any other region. No area should be treated as tick-free in summer 2026.


:CHECKLIST
Protect yourself this season
[ ] - Use EPA-registered insect repellent (DEET 20 percent or higher) on exposed skin when outdoors.
[ ] - Treat outdoor clothing and gear with permethrin. It binds to fabric and survives multiple washes.
[ ] - Walk in the centre of trails. Ticks wait on grass blades and leaf edges, not open ground.
[ ] - Do a full body tick check within two hours of coming indoors, including scalp and behind knees.
[ ] - Put clothes in a dryer on high heat for ten minutes before washing to kill attached ticks.
[ ] - Remove attached ticks with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight up without twisting or squeezing.
[ ] - If you remove an attached tick, note the date and watch for a rash or fever for 30 days.

:STATS

:NOTE
A Pfizer Lyme disease vaccine is now in late-stage trials. In a study reported in March 2026 the vaccine prevented Lyme in 70 percent of recipients. It is not yet approved, but the trial data has accelerated the regulatory timeline and it may be available for the 2027 season.


:THREAD

:LINK
https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/prevention/index.html
CDC: Lyme disease prevention and tick removal guide