Tick-Borne Diseases in Pennsylvania
Lyme disease is the fastest growing infectious disease in the country. Pennsylvania has more cases each year than any other state.
Lyme disease cases in PA represent nearly 30-35% of all the cases, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health Lyme disease data.
Lyme disease is in all 67 PA counties, determined by a PA Department of Environmental Protection published study in 2015.
Cases of Lyme have been reported in all 67 PA counties, and the geographic range of infected ticks has spread to every region.
Tick testing research has found that many ticks are infected with Lyme and other diseases (also called tick-borne infections).
Act 83 passed into law in 2014 establishing tick-borne disease as “a serious threat to the health and quality of life of many residents and visitors of Pennsylvania.”
Visit these sites to learn more about Pennsylvania and nationwide Lyme and Tick-Borne disease data:
The most common place people get tick bites is in their own yard!
What’s Your Tick-Bite Risk in PA?
Because ticks are small, you may not see a tick on you. Answer these quick questions to determine your risk:
Exposure – Have you been exposed to a tick habitat? (This could be where you live, camp, hike, ride horses, or play, usually in wooded or grassy areas.)
Tick bite – Do you recall being bitten by a tick?
Rash – Have you had a red expanding, or unexplained skin rash?
Summer flu – Have you had flu-like symptoms in the summer?
If you think you’ve been bitten by a tick or have symptoms that could be Lyme disease, see your health care practitioner right away. Every minute counts to stop the spread of the infection. When diagnosed early, Lyme can be more easily treated. Learn more about preventing tick bites.