East Coast Cities See 50% Jump in Tick Activity as Disease Cases Trend Up
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 12
East Coast Cities See 50% Jump in Tick Activity as Disease Cases Trend Up
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 12
Summary
Philadelphia, Washington and New York experts are warning that ticks are increasingly active in urban green spaces, with city residents facing higher exposure and rising tick-borne disease risk.
50% more tick submissions reached Pennsylvania's Tick Research Lab in March and April, mostly from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, while Washington logged bite reports in April instead of the usual May.
New York City health officials said tick-borne disease cases were trending upward across the city as parks and other green spaces draw in birds, mice and deer that carry ticks.
The shift is eroding the idea that ticks are mainly a rural or suburban threat, prompting experts to urge city parkgoers to use protection and check themselves after being outdoors.