Tick Activity Rising In CT As Lyme Disease Cases Increase, Data Shows

As tick season gets underway, researchers in Connecticut report an increase in tick submissions and a higher percentage of ticks carrying the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, amid a broader rise in reported cases in recent years, according to state officials and federal data.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station said its Tick Testing Program has seen a surge in submissions in recent weeks, averaging about 30 ticks per day.

More than 40 percent of those ticks have tested positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, officials said.

“We are at the beginning of the tick activity season for adult blacklegged ticks, which often have higher infection rates because they have had two chances to acquire disease agents during their juvenile stages,” said Dr. Goudarz Molaei, who directs the program.

Ticks tested have also carried pathogens linked to other illnesses, including babesiosis and anaplasmosis, according to the experiment station.

A tick testing positive does not necessarily mean a person will become infected, but it does indicate a higher risk of exposure.

Here’s how Lyme disease cases have changed over time in Connecticut:

Federal data shows reported Lyme disease cases in Connecticut declined for several years before increasing again more recently.

Cases fell to just over 500 in 2021, likely due to underreporting during the COVID-19 pandemic, before rising to more than 3,200 in 2023, based on CDC data from 2008 through 2023.

Here’s how Connecticut compares nationally:

Over that period, Connecticut recorded nearly 38,000 Lyme disease cases, ranking sixth in the country.

Officials said the risk is compounded by the presence of multiple tick species in the state, including invasive ticks that are expanding in coastal areas.

According to the experiment station, Connecticut has established populations of lone star ticks, Gulf Coast ticks and longhorned ticks, particularly in parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties.

These species can carry additional pathogens and, in some cases, trigger conditions such as alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy that can cause severe reactions.

State health data shows 2,170 Lyme disease cases were reported in Connecticut in 2024, though officials said the true number of infections could be significantly higher.

Officials recommend using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing and performing tick checks after spending time outdoors.