BREWSTER, NY— As warmer weather approaches, tick season is upon us. The health department encourages residents to take safety measures to reduce tick bites and risk for the three most common tickborne diseases in Putnam—Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis.

“Adult ticks become active in the spring as soon as the temperatures start to get above freezing. Nymphal ticks start to emerge in May and stay active through mid-summer. The nymphs are the culprits that cause most cases of disease because their tiny size makes them harder to find and remove quickly” explained Alison Kaufman, DVM, MPH, epidemiologist at the Putnam County Department of Health. “Every year we see a seasonal increase in human cases of tickborne disease that correspond to tick activity. Preliminary case counts for 2025 show that 54% of the 466 total reported cases of Lyme disease in Putnam were diagnosed in May through August. The seasonality is even more pronounced for anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Seventy-seven percent of the 39 reported cases of anaplasmosis and 79% of the 34 reported cases of babesiosis were reported in these same months.”

While not every tick carries a disease, those ticks that are infected are known to cause illnesses that can impact your health. The health department has a dedicated Lyme Disease and other Tickborne Illnesses webpage complete with easy-to-understand videos in English and Spanish. Preventing tick bites is the focus of primary prevention of all tickborne illnesses.

Common symptoms associated with Lyme disease are fever, fatigue, headache, and a flat oval or circular rash that spreads out over time. The rash may, but not always, have an area of clearing giving it the appearance of a bullseye. Anaplasmosis and babesiosis also cause fever, chills, muscle aches, and headache. In some cases, these two can cause severe or life-threatening illnesses, especially for people who have a weakened immune system or older adults. With any of these symptoms, contacting a health care provider is the best advice. 

Ticks thrive in moist, shady environments and are commonly found close to the ground in leaf litter, tall grass, bushes, shrubs, lawns, and gardens. When spending time outdoors, strategies to reduce risk for tick bites include wearing light colored clothing to help spot ticks more easily, choosing long sleeves and long pants when weather permits, wearing closed-toe shoes, and tying back long hair. If one wears long pants, tucking them into socks is a further precaution. 

Another protective layer to add is an insect repellent that is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, commonly known as the EPA. The EPA recommends using repellants that have one of the following ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or Para-menthane-diol. Clothes can be purchased pre-treated or treated at home with permethrin, an odorless insecticide to repel ticks. Visit the EPA website for more information.

After returning indoors, check your clothing, gear, and pets for ticks, and avoid placing worn clothes on furniture or bedding. Put clothing directly in dryer and use high heat for a minimum of ten minutes to kill any ticks. If clothes are damp or you wash them, keep in mind it is the high heat that kills ticks and ten full minutes is recommended once the garments are dry. Hit the shower right after to perform a full body tick check before sitting on a couch or bed. Common areas where ticks may hide include behind the ears, behind the knees, under the arms, between the toes, around the waistline, inside the belly button, in the groin area and along the scalp.

If a tick is found, remain calm and remove it carefully. Use fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick by its mouthparts as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid squeezing the body of the tick and other alternative removal methods such as applying Vaseline or heat to make the tick detach. These methods are ineffective, pose risk for injury and increase the risk of disease transmission by delaying tick removal. After removal, place the tick in a container with rubbing alcohol to kill it. Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol and monitor the area for up to 30 days for any signs of a rash. Some people may find it helpful to make a note of the time and location of the tick bite on a calendar. If a rash or any other symptoms appear, call or visit a healthcare provider.

Taking safeguards can make a big difference during tick season. Check for ticks on people and pets, and enjoy the outdoors. 

The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community. The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) through 2029, serves a community composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services are provided through a lens of equity, and include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit the County website at www.putnamcountyny.gov, or visit our social media sites on Facebook, X and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY.

Resources:

• Lyme Disease and other Tickborne Illnesses Page—PCDOH
  https://putnamcountyny.gov/health/tickborne
• Lyme Disease and Other Diseases Carried by Ticks
  https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/
• Tips to Prevent Tick Bites
  https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/tips-prevent-tick-bites