Tick-borne diseases aren’t just something you pick up in the deep woods. From suburban backyards to coastal trails, these bloodsucking bugs are turning everyday adventures into unexpected health scares at an alarming rate.
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The information provided on this site is based on my personal experience living with alpha-gal syndrome. I consistently cite and link to expert sources, but nothing published on this site should be perceived as medical advice.
Alpha-gal sensitivities vary by person. You should understand your dietary restrictions, making any adjustments needed, and directing any questions to your physician.
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you or someone you love has already been affected by a tick-borne disease. And if that diagnosis is alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), you know just how dramatically one bite can upend your life. This isn’t just an inconvenient allergy. It’s a condition that can alter everything from what’s on your dinner plate to what’s in your medicine cabinet.
Whether it’s Lyme, alpha-gal, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or another condition, tick-borne diseases aren’t confined to the deep woods anymore. People contract them after spending time in city parks, near the ocean, and even in their neighborhoods. As these illnesses rise in number and spread in reach, protecting yourself — and staying informed — has never been more essential.
In This Article
What is a Tick-Borne Disease?
A tick-borne disease is any illness spread through the bite of an infected tick. These tiny parasites feed on the blood of animals and humans. When they bite, they can transmit bacteria, viruses, or parasites into your body — often without you even feeling it.
Common symptoms of tick-borne illnesses include fever, fatigue, headache, and rash, but every condition presents a little differently. Lyme disease might start with a bull’s-eye rash. And alpha-gal syndrome may not show up until hours after eating a burger or another mammalian ingredient, making it frustratingly difficult to diagnose.
With more than a dozen known tick-borne illnesses in the US and with relatively new tick-borne diseases like AGS gaining ground, understanding what these diseases are (and how to protect yourself from them) is more important than ever.
The Rise of Tick-Borne Diseases
According to the National Institutes of Health, “bites from infected ticks are responsible for about half a million new illnesses each year in the US. And those numbers are rising.” While Lyme disease is still the most commonly reported tick-borne illness, alpha-gal syndrome is catching up fast. Tick-Borne Conditions United points out that AGS is rapidly emerging as a serious — yet often overlooked — threat.
A recent lab data analysis suggests AGS may already be the second most common tick-borne disease in the US. But because most states don’t officially track AGS, we’re left with a murky picture of its true impact. Making things worse, the CDC says many healthcare providers aren’t familiar with the condition. That means most Americans have no idea that one tick bite could leave them allergic to mammalian meat, dairy, medications — even some lotions and cosmetics.
Communities at Risk
You don’t need to be deep in the woods to be at risk for a tick bite. Farmers, landscapers, park rangers, and military members spend long hours outdoors, often in wooded or grassy areas where ticks thrive. They work closely with animals and vegetation, which makes them more vulnerable to tick-borne illnesses.
But you don’t have to be on the clock to be exposed. Hikers, campers, hunters, and birdwatchers spend hours in prime tick habitat, especially during peak season — April through June. Even a neighborhood dog walk, gardening session, or nap in a hammock can be enough.
And let’s not forget the kids. Youth organizations like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and 4-H regularly put children in close contact with nature. It’s great for building skills but also comes with the risk of tick bites and the diseases they carry.
Unexpected Sources of Tick Bites
Many people assume tick bites only happen in the deep woods or on backcountry hikes. However, some of the most common sources of exposure are much closer to home.
Dogs and outdoor cats can unknowingly carry ticks inside. Even if your pet’s on a preventive, ticks can still cling to their fur and hitchhike inside. That snuggle on the couch? It might come with more than a wagging tail.
Ticks are also popping up in urban and suburban environments. Landscaped golf courses, public parks, and even community gardens can unknowingly host ticks.
They’ve also made it to the beach. On Martha’s Vineyard, lone star ticks — spotted initially over a decade ago — now cover nearly the entire coastline. Out west, NPR reports that ticks are showing up in the shrubs and grasses along Northern California’s coast.
Common Tick Species in the United States
While all ticks are disgusting little blood suckers, they’re not all the same. Each species claims its own turf and brings its own baggage — from bacterial infections to life-altering allergies. Some spread Lyme disease. Others trigger severe allergic reactions. Knowing which ticks are in your area — and what they’re capable of — is the first step in protecting yourself.
The blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick, is infamous for spreading Lyme disease. You’ll mostly find it in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic. Its West Coast cousin, the western black-legged tick, hangs ten in coastal California and can transmit Lyme as well.
American dog ticks, also called wood ticks, thrive east of the Rockies and in some parts of the Pacific Northwest. These ticks are known for spreading Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a bacterial infection that can become deadly if not caught early.
Then there’s the lone star tick. It’s a rising threat that (as you probably know from personal experience) deserves serious attention. Once limited to the South, it’s now common across the Midwest and creeping into the Northeast and beyond. It’s the tick most often linked to alpha-gal syndrome — though recent CDC findings confirm that other species, like the blacklegged and western black-legged ticks, may also be capable of triggering the condition.
“There’s so much more to the puzzle of tick-borne diseases that we don’t understand,” says public health expert Jennifer Platt, DrPH, co-founder of Tick-Borne Conditions United. “With thousands of Lyme patients telling us they can’t tolerate red meat, we’ve long suspected other ticks are involved.”
What Diseases Do Ticks Carry?
While Lyme disease is the best-known tick-borne illness in the United States, it’s far from the only one. Although Lyme disease is serious, it’s also treatable with early diagnosis and proper antibiotics. Other conditions don’t offer that kind of resolution.
Alpha-gal syndrome ranks among the fastest-rising threats. It’s an allergy triggered by a sugar molecule found in most mammalian meat that’s introduced to your body through a tick bite. The result? Life with no bacon, no butter, and a growing list of surprising limitations. There’s currently no cure for AGS, no magical pill or treatment to make it go away. And for many people living with alpha-gal, this tick-borne food allergy goes beyond what you eat — it’s also medications, vaccines, or even personal care products.
Despite how disruptive AGS is, it remains widely underreported. According to an analysis of lab data by Tick-Borne Conditions United, AGS is likely the second most common tick-borne illness in the U.S. behind Lyme — but you wouldn’t know that by looking at CDC tracking data. Why? Unlike Lyme, AGS is not currently a reportable condition. This means that healthcare providers and labs are not required (and often do not) report cases to their local and state health departments.
The bottom line? Tick-borne diseases are more varied and dangerous than most people realize. And no matter where you live, the risks are very real.
Preventing Tick Bites
Avoiding tick bites is the best way to reduce your risk of tick-borne diseases. If you already have alpha-gal syndrome, avoiding additional bites is an essential part of managing your condition.
Dr. Thomas Mather, director of the University of Rhode Island’s TickEncounter Resource Center, swears by the three T’s of tick protection: tucking, treated clothing, and tight-fitting compression gear. Before heading outdoors, apply an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains at least 20% DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil. You can also treat your clothes with 0.5% permethrin or buy pretreated options designed to repel ticks.
Sage Advice: If your goal is to avoid the lone star tick, note that insect repellents with DEET may not be adequate. An infographic published by TickEncounter recommends wearing permethrin-treated shoes and clothing when in lone star tick country.
Dress smart by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants — and tuck in everything you can. Tuck your shirt into your waistband and your pants into your socks. Consider tight-fitting clothing like leggings or compression layers, which make it harder for ticks to sneak under the fabric. Choose light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot before they latch on.
While outside, stay in the center of trails and avoid brushing against tall grass, shrubs, or low-hanging branches. When you get home, toss your clothes in a hot dryer for at least 15 minutes before washing. The heat helps kill any stowaways that haven’t yet attached.
Then, conduct a tick check, ensuring you don’t overlook the spots ticks love most. Look behind your ears, under your arms, around your waist, behind your knees, between your legs, and along your scalp, especially at the hairline. Showering within two hours can help rinse off unattached ticks and gives you a good opportunity to do a full-body scan.
Do you have pets? They can carry ticks inside on their fur, even if they’re on a preventive. Ask your vet about the best tick prevention for your pet, and check them daily, especially after walks, hikes, or time in the yard.
Identify and Report Ticks
If you discover a tick attached to your body, remove it as soon as possible. The CDC recommends using fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull straight up with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or yank! That can leave tick parts embedded in your skin. (Gross!)
Once you’ve removed the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Whenever you can, save the tick. Place it in a sealed container or plastic bag and jot down the date and where in the world the tick bit you. If symptoms develop later, that tick could help confirm the species and guide treatment.
Need help figuring out what kind of tick bit you? TickSpotters, a free University of Rhode Island program, offers quick identification. Just upload a photo of the top side of the tick and get expert insight, including tips to lower your risk going forward.
Knowledge is Your Best Repellent
Tick populations are exploding. They’re creeping into new regions, bringing more diseases with them — some treatable, some life-altering, and some that health care providers still don’t fully understand. Learning how to prevent bites, check for ticks, and recognize symptoms is how you take back control. It’s how you protect yourself, your family, and your community from the ripple effects of one tiny bite.
Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.
