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Disease Control & Prevention

Tick-borne diseases

Ticks have the potential to carry harmful diseases. Learn about tick-borne illnesses and how to avoid tick bites.

Ticks are bugs that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, or reptiles. Black-legged (deer) ticks and dog ticks are found throughout Massachusetts and may spread different disease-causing germs when they bite you. The most common tick-borne diseases in Massachusetts are Lyme Disease, Babesiosis, and Anaplasmosis. Other diseases that are more rare, but still occur, are Tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Powassan virus. Tick-borne illnesses can be very severe and taking steps to avoid tick bites is important. Please click on the links below for more information on tick-borne diseases and how to prevent them.

What you need to know

Tick-borne disease information for the public  
Tick-borne disease information for health care providers 
Tick-borne educational materials 
Lyme Disease fact sheet 
Babesiosis fact sheet 
Anaplasmosis (HGA) fact sheet 
See all 13 

Contact Information

Address

State Public Health Laboratory
305 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
directions 

Phone

Infectious Disease Division (617) 983-6550
Urgent calls and infectious disease reporting (617) 983–6800
Laboratory Sciences Division (617) 983–6201

Fax

Infectious Disease Division (617) 983–6925
Laboratory Sciences Division (617) 983–6210

Additional Resources

Mosquitoes and Ticks – They’re Out in Mass!
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