See who is eligible to get a vaccine now. Registration for people 75 and older will begin on January 25. Sign up to get weekly email updates!
Tickborne Diseases
Tickborne Diseases
Diseases spread by ticks continue to be a serious public health concern in Vermont. Tickborne diseases are being reported to the Health Department more frequently in the past decade, with Lyme disease being the most common. Other tickborne diseases, such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis, are on the rise as well. Tularemia is a rare disease that can also be transmitted by ticks.
The Health Department’s Vector-borne Disease Program tracks and responds to tickborne diseases. We collect and analyze data to detect trends in disease activity, investigate reported cases of tickborne diseases, collaborate with other state agencies and educate Vermonters about disease risks and prevention strategies.
The best way to prevent tickborne diseases is to prevent tick bites. Be Tick Smart and use a tick repellent that has been proven safe and effective. Check your body daily for ticks, and if you have been bitten, remove ticks as soon as you can and watch for symptoms of a tickborne disease.
Tickborne Disease Program Annual Reports
In This Section
In Vermont, tickborne illnesses are most often transmitted between early spring and late fall since ticks are most active during warm months. Be Tick Smart - take action against bites to prevent Lyme and other diseases.
Six tick species are known to bite humans in Vermont, and five can transmit diseases. But nearly all tickborne diseases reported to the Health Department are caused by the blacklegged tick.
Tickborne diseases are a serious health concern in Vermont. Vermont health professionals are essential partners in tickborne disease prevention efforts.
Anaplasmosis is a tickborne disease caused the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
Babesiosis in Vermont is caused by an infection with a parasite called Babesia microti. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, the same tick that transmits Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.
Borrelia miyamotoi is a bacterium recently recognized to cause disease in humans.
Ehrlichiosis is a disease caused by an infection with Ehrlichia bacteria. The bacteria are transmitted by the bite of a lone star tick, and may also be transmitted through blood transfusions.
Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tickborne disease in Vermont. In 2017, Vermont had the highest rate of reported confirmed and probable Lyme disease cases in the U.S.
Powassan virus disease is a rare but serious illness caused by the bite of an infected tick.