Why Tick Threats Are Rising—and How to Stay Safe

Unlike with most food allergies, alpha-gal reactions are delayed, typically appearing 2 to 6 hours after a person consumes something that triggers it. This peculiarity as well as a relatively new awareness of alpha-gal are part of why, as one 2017 study found, many cases—and some deaths likely due to it—have gone undetected. In November 2025, researchers published a report documenting what came close to being a missed case: A 47-year-old airline pilot died after an evening allergic reaction to a hamburger he’d eaten at an afternoon barbecue. His allergy wasn’t diagnosed until after his death.

Such cases may become more common. The Lone Star ticks that spread the allergy have thrived in recent years due to warmer temperatures and an abundance of the white-tailed deer they feed on, experts say.

These ticks have shown a remarkable capacity for expanding into new regions, says Thomas Mather, PhD, an entomologist at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. For example, in 2014, people on Long Island, N.Y., who sent photos of ticks (for help identifying them) to the University of Rhode Island’s TickEncounter program saw Lone Star and blacklegged ticks in equal frequency. By 2024, they were seeing six Lone Stars for every blacklegged tick. Lone Star ticks are also known to be aggressive biters prone to swarming. What’s more, some reports indicate that tick species other than Lone Star may be spreading alpha-gal, as has been documented in other parts of the world.

Most people bitten by a Lone Star tick won’t develop an alpha-gal allergy, though some will still test positive in a blood test. Because of this, clinicians typically don’t recommend getting tested unless there’s a strong suspicion that alpha-gal allergy is causing problems. People who can avoid getting bitten again may lose the allergy after about three to five years, though it could happen quicker—or not at all. A monthly injectable medication called Xolair (omalizumab), which is usually covered by insurance, can minimize reactions, Commins says. Many people with the allergy also carry EpiPens or a newer epinephrine nasal spray that’s needle-free.

Today, alpha-gal is probably the 10th most common food allergy in the U.S., Commins says. The top nine allergens are all legally required to be listed on food labels. Labeling food and especially medications that contain alpha-gal could help many people avoid dangerous reactions.

There are at least 15 diseases known to be spread by ticks in the U.S., some more common than others. And many ticks spread more than one disease. Blacklegged ticks, infamous for spreading Lyme (the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the U.S., though Ostfeld says that alpha-gal syndrome could catch up), can also spread five other diseases. Here are several of the more common conditions you should know about.

Lyme disease. Known to infect an estimated 476,000 people a year, Lyme is spread by blacklegged ticks. Initial symptoms include rash, fever, headache, and fatigue. Lyme can be treated with antibiotics. Untreated, it can spread to the joints, heart, or nervous system, and cause serious problems. Lyme can be identified with antibody testing, but those tests generally don’t catch an early infection. If you’ve had a recent tick bite and the tick was attached for at least a day, your healthcare provider might prescribe prophylactic antibiotics. A vaccine for Lyme disease that’s currently in late-stage clinical trials could be helpful if it’s approved, Ostfeld says.

Babesiosis. A parasitic illness spread by blacklegged ticks, babesiosis is one of the more common tick-borne infectious diseases. People can have it without realizing it, though it leads to flu-like symptoms for some. It can be particularly dangerous for people who are immunocompromised, older than 50, or don’t have a spleen. Babesiosis is endemic in at least 10 states. Blacklegged ticks may sometimes be more likely to carry the parasites that cause babesiosis than the bacteria that cause Lyme, according to a 2025 study. Babesiosis is detectable with a blood test and can be treated with antibiotics and anti-parasitic drugs. (Donated blood is screened in at-risk locations.)

Anaplasmosis. Another relatively common tick-borne disease, anaplasmosis is a bacterial infection that typically causes flu-like symptoms. It’s spread by blacklegged ticks. It can cause severe illness in older adults and people with weakened immune systems, or if it’s left untreated. It’s detectable with a blood test and treatable with antibiotics (usually doxycycline), especially when it’s caught early.

Ehrlichiosis. This is the general name for a group of bacterial diseases spread by Lone Star and blacklegged ticks. Reported cases have been on the rise over the past two decades. Treatable with antibiotics, symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headaches, and upset stomach.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. A serious disease spread by dog and wood ticks, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a bacterial infection that can cause flu-like symptoms and a rash that typically appears late in the illness. The rash can take on a varied appearance, sometimes looking like red splotches and sometimes like pinpoint dots. RMSF can be treated with antibiotics. Untreated, severe infections can be life-threatening and cause permanent damage. Cases occur throughout the U.S.

Tick-borne viruses. Ticks can carry a number of viruses. These are rarely reported but include Heartland and Bourbon viruses (both thought to be spread by Lone Star ticks), and the rare but potentially severe or even deadly Powassan virus (spread by blacklegged ticks). Typically, these cause flu-like symptoms, though signs of severe Powassan include confusion, difficulty speaking, and seizures. There’s no treatment for any of these—another reason the prevention of tick bites is especially important.

Tick bites can happen year-round, so as long as it’s at least 40° F, it’s worth taking precautions against ticks. That’s especially true if you’re working outside, gardening, hiking, or otherwise spending time in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Protecting yourself is a multilayered process, Mather says.

When you go out, wear light-colored clothing that covers your body as much as possible to keep ticks off your skin and make them easier to spot. Tighter-fitting garments can prevent ticks from crawling up into gaps, Mather says. Shirts, pants, and other clothes treated with an insecticide called permethrin can kill ticks that climb onto them. You can buy clothing that’s pretreated, send clothes to a company that will treat them (such as Insect Shield), or spray permethrin on at home (follow package precautions closely).

Apply an effective insect repellent to exposed skin. The best choices contain Environmental Protection Agency-registered ingredients including deet, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and picaridin. (See our recommended repellents.) Also, talk with your vet about the best ways to protect your dog because pets can carry ticks into your home, says Aubrey Ryan, a physician assistant who practices emergency medicine on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Once you get home, remove outdoor clothing immediately. Putting it in a clothes dryer on high for 10 minutes can kill ticks, Ryan says. Take a shower right away and do a tick check on yourself, your kids, and your pets. Familiarize yourself ahead of time with how small tick nymphs can be, Mather suggests; some are as small as a poppy seed. Keep a lint roller (handy for ticks on clothing), a magnifying glass, and tweezers on hand.

If you see a tick on your skin, grab it with tweezers—as close to the head as you can—and pull steadily; don’t jerk or twist. Try to remove all mouth parts (it’s okay if you can’t get some), then clean the site and your hands with an alcohol wipe or soap and water. To dispose of the tick, place it in a sealed container, wrap it in tape, flush it down the toilet, or put it in rubbing alcohol.

If the tick appears to have been on you for a while and is engorged, or if you notice a bull’s-eye rash on your skin—which usually appears about a week after a tick bite but can appear from three to 30 days after being bitten, or not at all—you might want to discuss antibiotics with your healthcare provider.