The State of Michigan is experiencing a significant rise in Lyme disease cases, with a 168% increase over the last five years. In 2024, the state reported 1,215 cases, compared to 452 in 2020. This surge prompted the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to issue a warning in May urging residents to take defensive measures against tick bites.
“The best defense against Lyme disease is to take measures to avoid tick bites when you’re spending time outdoors this summer,” said Lakes Urgent Care Medical Director Dr. Haidar Al-Saadi.
Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne illness in Michigan. Another tick-borne disease, anaplasmosis, has also seen a substantial increase, with cases nearly five-folding from 17 in 2020 to 82 in 2024. Both diseases are transmitted by the blacklegged or deer tick (Ixodes scapularis), which is well-established in parts of Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas and has been expanding its range.
Factors contributing to the increase in tick-borne diseases include milder winters and longer, hotter, and more humid summers, which allow ticks to be active for extended periods and spread into previously colder areas.
To protect against tick bites and reduce the risk of Lyme disease, MDHHS and other health organizations recommend the following:
- Avoid tick-infested areas: Ticks live in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas. When outdoors, walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown vegetation and leaf litter.
- Use insect repellent: Apply EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) to exposed skin. For clothing and gear, consider treating them with permethrin (do not apply permethrin directly to skin). Always follow product instructions.
- Wear protective clothing: When in tick habitats, wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirts into pants to create barriers.
- Perform daily tick checks: After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check yourself, children, and pets for ticks. Pay close attention to areas like under the arms, behind the knees, between the legs, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, around the waist, and in the hair.
- Shower promptly: Showering within two hours of coming indoors can help wash off unattached ticks.
- Handle clothing appropriately: Wash clothing in hot water and dry on high heat to kill any lingering ticks. Tumble dry clothes on high heat for at least 10 minutes (or 60 minutes if damp).
- Proper tick removal: If you find an attached tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick, and avoid using petroleum jelly, hot matches, or other folk remedies. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water afterward.
- Monitor for symptoms: Be aware of early symptoms of tick-borne illnesses, which typically appear 1-2 weeks after a bite and can include fever, chills, rash (often a bull’s-eye rash for Lyme disease), headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. If you suspect a tick has been attached for more than 24 hours or if you develop symptoms, consult a medical provider.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services encourages residents to email photos of ticks to MDHHS-Bugs@michigan.gov or mail them in for free identification. Early detection and treatment with antibiotics are crucial to prevent serious complications from Lyme disease.