The Lyme Educator

10/25/2025

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scientists analyzed the distribution of three potentially harmful tick species in Illinois, identifying regions of the state with higher numbers of these ticks and, therefore, at greater risk of infection with multiple tick-borne diseases.

The study found that of the three species tracked
▪️Lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is most prevalent in southern Illinois
▪️Black-legged tick or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, is more common in northern and central Illinois
▪️Dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, dominates the central and southern parts of the state

🔗 Learn more and stay in the loop with current tick research in Illinois at: https://news.illinois.edu/study-identifies-hotspots-of-disease-carrying-ticks-in-illinois/

🔗 Find more information on submitting tick samples through Extension and the Illinois Natural History Survey Medical Entomology Lab at https://go.illinois.edu/bitemap.

Photo Caption: Abrar Hussain, left, Rebecca Smith, and their colleagues mapped the distribution of three tick species across the state of Illinois. They compared this distribution to the incidence of tick-borne diseases in the state. Photo by Fred Zwicky.

10/17/2025

What can medical scientists learn from white-tailed deer that can protect us from a debilitating disease?

10/17/2025

Heath officials confirmed the first locally acquired case of the painful mosquito-borne disease chikungunya, marking the virus’s first appearance in the U.S. in 6 years.

10/13/2025

10/10/2025

Lyme disease cases are rising nationwide as ER visits for tick bites hit multi-year highs. Doctors warn that while rare, Lyme can inflame the heart and become life-threatening if missed.

Delaware State track coach Stephen Kimes learned this after months of pain and shortness of breath that tests later tied to Lyme.

Learn the warning signs, how heart complications present: http://bit.ly/3WqFYBo?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KWTV_-_NEWS_9

10/08/2025

Sandy Berenson never imagined a tick bite could flip her life upside down. She now lives with Alpha-gal Syndrome, an allergy to red meat and anything made from mammals.

10/04/2025

10/04/2025

LONG COVID OR REACTIVATED LYME+? Woman, 27, bedridden for two years by Lyme disease, Bartonella, and Babesia urges others to ‘educate yourself’ as she faces uncertain future

Maia’s mother, a self-employed private tutor who has become Maia’s full-time carer, said she suspects the Lyme disease lay dormant for many years before it was “reactivated” by Covid-19, and Maia was diagnosed with the bacterial infection in December 2024.

“If you know someone dealing with a chronic illness, reach out to them regularly. They are probably quite lonely.”

https://uk.style.yahoo.com/woman-27-bedridden-two-years-053055314.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAK7EiCVXxQHzgG9x8INT9IJdoA2xtAsrLyTHX0MVx1KTSzGQjShk7GYR6vG9P1dVIpTqfSmnlHYWmqQUtJGhbQk_mVS4xcGZx271Vp6MpX8lUCZQc4Cf1vUdA1KGjgJRHulUaRTsCwmJ1teGpDxsxycKqa3SM32DvaTGGkmdN1cH

10/04/2025

Depending on where you live or play, these are the ticks and the likelihood of an encounter during October. As you can see in the graph, October is DOMINATED by adult stage blacklegged ticks, and they start their active season with a BANG usually after the first week of Oct. And it only gets more intense from there...thru Thanksgiving! So, keep tucking shirts and pant legs, and check regularly. More info to stay TickSafe - https://bit.ly/fallticks

10/04/2025

Being bitten by a tick may expose you to disease, with the risk estimated to be around a 30% chance of contracting Lyme disease from the bite. Make sure you are protecting yourself if you go hiking or in wooded areas. I recommend tick gaiters to everyone! https://amzn.to/4mPG4gL

Dr. Saravanan Thangamani from Upstate Medical University said more ticks are being submitted to the Upstate Tick Testing Laboratory.

10/03/2025

Powassan virus in central IL.

Chandler Reliford, a 22-year-old from Peoria, Illinois, contracted the Powassan Virus, a rare infection that can cause severe disease, and has been fighting for his life in the hospital, with his f…

09/09/2025

New bills at the federal level related to Lyme Disease! Support these bills!

From the Center for Lyme Action: With five active tick-borne disease bills in the House of Representatives, we need all hands on deck to make sure these