# Early tick season surge raises disease concerns in Kentucky region  
**Published:** 2026-04-25T14:34:37.000Z  
**Source:** [LEX 18 News](https://www.lex18.com/health/tick-season-seems-to-be-off-to-a-fast-start-some-worry-about-future-illnesses)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/early-tick-season-surge-raises-disease-concerns-in-kentucky-region

LEXINGTON, Ky. — An unusually early and robust tick season is prompting health officials across the country to sound alarms about potential increases in tick-borne illnesses, according to [reporting from Lex 18 News](https://www.lex18.com/health/tick-season-seems-to-be-off-to-a-fast-start-some-worry-about-future-illnesses).

The [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov) issued an early advisory this week warning the public to take precautions against ticks, noting that tick bites typically don't spike until May. Current CDC surveillance data shows that weekly emergency room visits for tick bites are at their highest levels for this time of year since 2017 across most U.S. regions.

Dr. Alina Filozov, an infectious disease specialist, said the correlation is clear: "If you have a lot of exposures, there will probably be more cases of tick-related infections." The concern extends beyond simple bites, as some ticks carry bacteria and viruses that cause serious illnesses including [Lyme disease](https://www.cdc.gov/lyme), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome — a potentially life-threatening meat allergy.

The CDC estimates approximately 476,000 people are treated annually for Lyme disease in the United States. Connecticut, where the disease was first identified in the town of Lyme, is experiencing a particularly acute surge. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station reported residents submitting an average of 30 ticks daily for testing, with an alarming 40 percent testing positive for Lyme disease bacteria.

Experts attribute the early surge to climate change, which creates ideal warm, humid conditions for ticks. Unusually high mouse populations over the past two years have also expanded tick populations by providing abundant food sources. The upcoming weeks are expected to bring an additional challenge: juvenile nymphs, which are smaller and harder to detect, making infection risk higher.

Health officials recommend wearing light-colored, permethrin-treated clothing when outdoors and using EPA-registered insect repellents. Walking in the center of paths and avoiding ankle-level vegetation where ticks perch with outstretched legs can reduce exposure. Those who find a tick should remove it immediately, though medical attention is only necessary if the tick has been embedded for extended periods or symptoms develop.

## Sources

- [LEX 18 News](https://www.lex18.com/health/tick-season-seems-to-be-off-to-a-fast-start-some-worry-about-future-illnesses)
- [CDC - Lyme Disease](https://www.cdc.gov/lyme)
- [CDC - Home](https://www.cdc.gov)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from LEX 18 News. The original source is available at https://www.lex18.com/health/tick-season-seems-to-be-off-to-a-fast-start-some-worry-about-future-illnesses.