Where are the most cases of Lyme disease in NY? See rates in your county (2024)

New York's Lyme disease infection rate exploded in recent years, and was one of the highest in the country in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Almost 16,800 cases were reported in New York in 2022, up from just over 3,000 in 2021, and the New York region's 2024 tick season was off to arecord-setting start in Marchfollowing the mild winter. Emergency room visits for tick bites leveled off a bit in April before illnesses bounced back in May.

Lyme disease is the most common disease transmitted through tick bites, the CDC said, and the number of people who have contracted the illness could be as much as 10 times higher than the reported cases.

And withclimate changeraising temperatures, tick populations have expanded into new regions and put more people in contact with ticks and their illness-causing bacteria, USA TODAY reported this week. Annual cases are expected to continue to climb.

Here's what to know.

Where are the most cases of Lyme disease in NY?

There are three types of ticks most commonly found in New York — deer (black-legged) ticks, American dog ticks and lone star ticks — but deer ticks are the only ones that can carry the Lyme-causing bacteria, according to the state Department of Health.

Suffolk and Dutchess Counties had the highest number of reported Lyme disease cases in 2022 with 2,667 and 1,175, respectively.

Westchester County wasn't too far behind with 974 cases. Many counties in upstate New York saw much lower numbers. For example, Monroe County only saw 306 in 2022.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced last week a push for almost $200 million in the fiscal year 2025 government spending bill for research to understand the full impact of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Here are the number of reported cases in each New York county in 2022, according to the CDC.

What are Lyme disease symptoms?

For most people, their first symptom is a rash, or erythema migrans, with these possible qualities, according to the state Department of Health:

• Occurs at or near the site of the tick bite
• Is a "bulls-eye" circular patch or solid red patch that grows larger
• Appears between three days and one month after the tick bite
• Has a diameter of 2-6 inches
• Lasts for around 3-5 weeks
• May be warm to the touch
• Usually not painful or itchy
• Sometimes leads to multiple rashes

Joint pain, chills, fever and fatigue are also possible symptoms and as the disease progresses, you may experience severe fatigue, stiff neck, tingling or numbness in your arms and legs or facial paralysis.

The most severe symptoms — severe headaches, painful arthritis, swelling of joints and heart and central nervous system problems — may not appear until weeks, months or even years after the bite.

Tick season off to record start in NY: Why is it so bad?

When should I seek medical attention for a tick bite?

You should see your health care provider immediately, the state Department of Health says.

Early treatment against the disease consists of antibiotics and typically leads to being fully cured. However, the longer you wait to seek treatment, the greater chance you'll have at experiencing longer term symptoms.

How do I protect against tick bites?

Preventing Lyme disease starts with avoiding tick bites altogether. Here's how you can protect against tick bites, according to the state Department of Health:

• Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks early.
• Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck your pant legs into your socks or boots and your shirt into your pants.
• Check your clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while you're outdoors
• Consider using insect repellent
• Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails, walk in the center of trails and avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
• Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.
• If you have long hair, tie it back, especially when gardening.
• Bathe or shower preferably within two hours after being outside to wash off and more easily find ticks.
• Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day and promptly remove any ticks you may find.

Tick season in NY: Is it getting worse?

How to properly remove a tick

If you find a tick somewhere on your body, follow these steps from the state Department of Health to ensure you've removed the entire tick.

• Use a pair of pointed tweezers to grasp the tick by the head or mouth parts right where they enter the skin. Do not grab the tick by the body.
• Pull firmly and steadily outward. Do not jerk or twist the tick.
• Place the tick in a small container of rubbing alcohol to kill it.
• Clean the bite wound with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
• Monitor the site of the bite for the next 30 days to make sure a rash doesn't appear.

USA TODAY reporters Sara Chernikoff and Janet Loehrke and New York State Team health reporter David Robinson contributed to this report.

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Barnes atebarnes@gannett.comor on Twitter@byemilybarnes.