October report

Massachusetts Department of Public Health monthly tick update

This month's report

View the October, 2019 Tick Exposure and Tick-borne Disease Report 

Highlights

Highlights from the report:

• Tick activity and tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi and Powassan virus, occur year-round in Massachusetts.
• Although tick activity is weather dependent, there are two peaks during the year; the first begins in March/April and lasts through August, and the second occurs in October-November.
• The majority of cases of tick-borne disease occur in June through August.
• Tick-borne diseases are most frequently diagnosed in children and older adults.
• Although not every tick is carrying a disease, it is important to take steps to avoid all tick bites.
• Tick-borne disease prevention includes the use of repellents that contain an EPA-registered active ingredient like permethrin or DEET, wearing light colored clothing to more easily spot ticks, doing daily tick checks and promptly and properly removing any attached ticks.
• Additional information is available at www.mass.gov/dph/tick.

Date published:	December 5, 2019