Latest News About Tick

Here’s the latest on ticks based on recent reporting up to 2026.

Key takeaways

• Tick activity and related illness risk are projected to be higher in 2026 than in recent years, with health authorities warning of increased Lyme disease cases and more emergency room visits tied to tick bites. This aligns with seasonality patterns and climate factors that can expand tick habitats.[1]
• New tick species and invasive ticks are under scrutiny for their potential to transmit new diseases in the U.S. Researchers warn that the arrival or establishment of additional tick species could elevate public health risks, though confirmed human cases from some of these newcomers have not yet risen dramatically in all reported areas.[2][3]
• Public health guidance continues to emphasize personal protection and environmental management: use tick repellents, perform thorough tick checks after outdoor activity, wear protective clothing, and maintain yards to reduce tick habitats. These recommendations are consistently echoed across health reporting tied to ticks.[2]

Representative ongoing concerns

• Lyme disease remains a central focus of tick-borne illness surveillance, with authorities expecting some year-over-year increases in reported cases.[1]
• The emergence or spread of invasive ticks (including Asian longhorned ticks and related species) is being monitored for potential disease transmission, which could affect both people and animals.[5][2]
• Media coverage in 2024–2026 includes warnings about spikes in tick-related ER visits and heightened awareness around tick-borne diseases in various regions of the U.S. (including the Northeast and other states).[4][9]

What you can do in Dallas or similar regions

• Use EPA-registered tick repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 when outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas.
• Do daily end-of-day ticks checks on yourself, children, and pets after outdoor time; promptly remove any you find.
• Keep lawns trimmed, remove leaf litter, and create a tick-safe yard by reducing brush and mowing regularly.
• Be mindful of peak tick seasons in your area (often spring through fall) and stay updated on local public health advisories.

If you’d like, I can pull the most current local public health advisories for Dallas or summarize state-level guidance on tick prevention and tick-borne diseases for 2026. I can also set up a quick alerts brief that tracks major tick-related developments from reputable outlets.