Tick Risk Crawls Into NYC As Summer Season Starts, Officials Warn

NEW YORK CITY — Add "ticks" to the long list of things New York City dwellers have to worry about.

Beware of ticks as summer weather approaches and the creepy-crawly, disease-carrying little bloodsuckers spread, warned city health officials Thursday.

They said tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme diseases infect hundreds of New Yorkers every year. Last year alone, 826 city dwellers were diagnosed with Lyme disease, officials said.

“We want all New Yorkers to take advantage of the summer weather this year and get outside, but it’s important to remember some basic precautions while in areas where ticks may be present,” said Ashwin Vasan, the city's health commissioner, in a statement.

Ticks are present in all boroughs, but specific types in Staten Island and parts of the northern Bronx are particularly worrisome, health officials said.

Those borough-born ticks — like their upstate and Long Island brethren — can carry of diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and ehrlichiosis, officials warn.

That said, most cases of tick-borne disease are found in residents of Manhattan and Brooklyn who've traveled outside the city, officials said.

Last year saw a slight jump in tick borne diseases from levels recorded in 2018, officials said. Lyme disease cases ticked up 16 percent, according to data.

Tick surveillance by health officials has found the blacklegged tick, which can spread Lyme disease, is widely established in Staten Island and areas of the Bronx, including Pelham Bay Park and Hunter Island, according to health department data.

Lone star ticks — which can spread ehrlichiosis and are associated with a food allergy to red meat known as alpha-gal syndrome — are also found in Staten Island and parts of the Bronx.

Officials recommend using tick repellent — particularly those containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 with a product label indicating it is effective against ticks — and wearing long pants if walking or hiking. People should avoid tall grass, check for ticks after spending time outdoors and bathe or shower within two hours after coming inside.

More information on ticks and avoiding them can be found here.