Disease-Carrying Ticks on the Rise Across Illinois

There are few critters nastier to deal with than ticks. A new report from the University of Illinois reveals that disease-carrying ticks are on the rise across many parts of the state and that includes a plethora of hotspots.

Just a few days ago, the University of Illinois released a study from scientists revealing how there is a surge in tick-related diseases. There are three specific tick species of concern: lone star ticks, dog ticks and back-legged ticks. Each are capable of passing along pathogens and some can be life-threatening. This map shared by the University of Illinois shows how widespread these disease-carrying ticks are in numerous counties. You can see the dog ticks are more common in northeastern Illinois while lone star ticks are normally found in southern Illinois with a few exceptions.

These ticks are capable of passing along sicknesses like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, fever, tularemia and Powassan virus disease. Depending on the health of the individual impacted by these ticks, the condition can vary from mild sickness to anaphylactic shock. By far, Illinois has seen more cases of Lyme disease than any other tick-related sickness.

What can you do to prevent tick bites in Illinois?

You can use repellents like DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus on your open skin. It's also a good idea to dress defensively if you know you'll be in areas where ticks are common and tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants to lessen vulnerable areas. Keeping your lawn mowed and avoiding walking through tall grass can also limit your likelihood of encountering this disturbing increase in tick-related illnesses in Illinois.