Rising Winter Temperatures Fuel Increase in Tick-Borne Diseases, Experts Warn

Experts are warning the public about an unexpected effect of climate change as winter approaches across the United States: increased tick activity during the colder months. Ticks, which are known to transmit illnesses such as Lyme disease, are robust and grow more active in the winter due to warmer weather patterns, whereas other insects perish in freezing temperatures.  

Rafal Tokarz, an epidemiologist at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, argues that prolonged periods of exceptionally mild weather have thrown off the expected pattern of harsh winters. Warmer days allow ticks to hide until the temperature rises, at which time they become active and look for prey like humans and pets.  

The number of patients treated for tick bites after being admitted to the emergency room has increased, according to the CDC. This is mainly noticeable in the Northeastern United States. While it was formerly thought that lower temperatures would reduce tick activity, climate change is actually exacerbating the problem.  

According to the newly released National Climate Study, the predicted general warming trend in the United States makes adult ticks more likely to seek hosts even in the winter. Tick specialist Richard Ostfeld of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies believes that some Lyme disease ticks may have survived the winter, resulting in a second wave of activity when temperatures increase in March and April.  

As the frequency of tick contacts increases due to climate change, so does the number of tick-borne illnesses. According to Cornell University infectious disease researcher Laura Goodman, ticks may quickly hibernate under leaf litter over the winter.  

Ticks can survive temperatures below freezing in the correct conditions. Goodman adds that you should use caution everywhere, not only in areas where the temperature appears to be higher than usual. Tick bites pose additional dangers due to the existence of tick species that carry illnesses, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Climate change has affected insect behavior, prompting public health experts to suggest year-round tick surveillance.  

Ticks require one blood meal during each of their three life stages. The nymph stage of the tick life cycle is dangerous because it is difficult to identify and may contain Lyme disease-causing bacteria. Although there are some encouraging signs, the patterns call for caution. Because adult ticks can be quickly spotted and removed, the risk of disease transmission is significantly decreased. Rafal Tokarz emphasized the need to remove ticks as soon as possible to reduce the risk of sickness.  

Experts recommend doing thorough self-checks after outdoor activities, using insect repellent, wearing lighter clothes to assist tick detection, and using dry heat to destroy ticks on clothing to avoid tick bites in milder temperatures. They also advise getting tested for Lyme disease even if no rash appears following a tick bite. 

Pet owners can use Lyme disease vaccinations for dogs, as well as topical and oral medicines, as a preventative strategy against tick-borne diseases. The need for public education and prevention against tick-borne diseases exists all year, especially as winter conditions grow less predictable.  

News Reference  

Warmer winters mean more tick bites and Lyme disease risk year-round. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/warm-winter-weather-tick-bites-lyme-disease-risk-rcna125202