Tick season is here and that means it’s time once again for people to protect themselves and their loved ones (including pets) from tick bites. CDC has an updated digital press kit available with the latest information about the increasing number of reported tickborne illnesses, newly discovered disease-causing germs, expanding ranges of ticks, and a novel tick species recently found in the US.
Last year, nearly 60,000 cases of tickborne disease were reported to CDC by state health departments and the District of Columbia. Though it can’t be predicted how bad any particular season will be, it is known that reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense against Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other tickborne infections.