{"id":2114,"date":"2025-08-17T00:33:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T07:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ultalabtests.com\/blog\/?p=2114"},"modified":"2025-08-28T11:00:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T18:00:26","slug":"lyme-disease-on-the-rise-ticks-surging-after-warm-winter-put-more-people-at-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ultalabtests.com\/blog\/infectious-disease\/lyme-disease\/lyme-disease-on-the-rise-ticks-surging-after-warm-winter-put-more-people-at-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Lyme Disease on the Rise\u2014Ticks Surging After Warm Winter Put More People at Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you feel like you\u2019re hearing about ticks surging<\/strong> everywhere this summer, you\u2019re not imagining it. Multiple outlets reporting CDC data say emergency-department visits for tick bites<\/strong> in Summer 2025 are at their highest levels in years, especially in the Northeast\u2014where Lyme disease in the Northeast<\/strong> remains a significant public health concern. A warm winter<\/strong>, shorter cold seasons, and shifting habitats are helping ticks thrive and expand their range, raising the risk of Lyme disease<\/strong> and other tick-borne infections<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news: Lyme disease testing<\/strong> and other targeted lab tests<\/strong> can help you and your clinician move from worry to a plan. Through Ulta Lab Tests, you can order comprehensive blood tests\u2014often the same evidence-based assays doctors use\u2014to check for Lyme disease<\/strong> and common coinfections, all without insurance requirements or a doctor\u2019s office visit up front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Young
A happy couple enjoys a sunny day in the park with their Australian Shepherd, unaware that tall grass and shaded areas can harbor ticks carrying Lyme disease and other infections.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lyme Disease in the Northeast<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Northeast remains one of the hardest-hit regions for Lyme disease<\/strong> in the United States. Warmer winters and expanding tick habitats have extended the active season for blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis<\/em>), increasing the number of tick bites and tick-borne infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in or visit states like Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Connecticut<\/strong>, it\u2019s critical to check for ticks after spending time outdoors in grassy, wooded, or brushy areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. States with Highest Incidence of Lyme Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the Northeast is well-known for Lyme risk, several other states also report consistently high case numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14 High-Incidence States<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to CDC and Mount Sinai data, about 95% of all reported Lyme disease cases<\/strong> are concentrated in these 14 states<\/strong>:
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within these, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont<\/strong>\u2014particularly in northern New England\u2014have seen especially sharp increases in Lyme incidence recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upper Midwest: Expanding Risk Zone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the traditionally high-risk states, the upper Midwest<\/strong> (notably Minnesota<\/strong> and Wisconsin<\/strong>) remains endemic. Risk is also expanding into Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Summary Table: High-Risk Areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Region<\/th>States Included<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Northeast<\/td>CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA<\/td><\/tr>
Upper Midwest<\/td>MN, WI (with expansion into IA, IL, IN, MI)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Key Takeaway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lyme disease isn\u2019t just a Northeast concern\u2014it also hits hard in the upper Midwest and continues to encroach into neighboring regions. This broader geographic risk highlights the importance of prevention and accessible Lyme disease lab testing<\/strong>\u2014especially during peak seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. States with Highest Incidence of Lyme Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While the Northeast is well-known for Lyme risk, several other states also report consistently high case numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14 High-Incidence States<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to CDC and Mount Sinai data, about 95% of all reported Lyme disease cases<\/strong> are concentrated in these 14 states<\/strong>:
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within these, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont<\/strong>\u2014particularly in northern New England\u2014have seen especially sharp increases in Lyme incidence recently <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upper Midwest: Expanding Risk Zone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the traditionally high-risk states, the upper Midwest<\/strong> (notably Minnesota<\/strong> and Wisconsin<\/strong>) remains endemic. Risk is also expanding into Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Summary Table: High-Risk Areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Region<\/th>States Included<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Northeast<\/td>CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA<\/td><\/tr>
Upper Midwest<\/td>MN, WI (with expansion into IA, IL, IN, MI)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Key Takeaway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lyme disease isn\u2019t just a Northeast concern\u2014it also hits hard in the upper Midwest and continues to encroach into neighboring regions. This broader geographic risk highlights the importance of prevention and accessible Lyme disease lab testing<\/strong>\u2014especially during peak seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay proactive:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n