'Unheard of.' Researchers report tick activity already on the rise in Connecticut
Researchers at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven are busier than normal with the lab's Tick Testing Program.
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It's only early April, but experts are warning of increased tick activity and Lyme disease threats in Connecticut.
Researchers at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven are busier than normal with the lab's Tick Testing Program.
"Since yesterday morning, our laboratory has received over 140 tick submissions. This is unheard of," Dr. Goudarz Molaie told News 12.
Molaei runs the research program, which doesn't typically see this kind of surge in early April.
"It does appear that tick activity has picked up and is in full swing, so to speak," Molaie said.
What's more, over 40% of blacklegged "deer" tick submissions from the past few weeks tested positive for the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, according to Molaie. He said 12% to 15% were found to have pathogens linked to other illnesses, like babesiosis and anaplasmosis.
A tick testing positive does not necessarily mean a person will become infected, but it does indicate a higher risk of exposure.
Deer tick and American dog tick populations can be found throughout the state, according to Molaei. But since 2017, Fairfield County and New Haven County have seen the emergence of three invasive tick species - the Lone Star tick, Gulf Coast tick and longhorned tick. Those have primarily infested the coastal areas.
"All of these ticks are capable of transmitting their own strains of diseases," Moalaei warned.
In some cases, they can trigger conditions such as alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy that can cause severe reactions.
State health data shows 2,170 Lyme disease cases were reported in Connecticut in 2024, while there were several hundred cases of other tick-borne illnesses.
Experts recommend using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing and performing tick checks after spending time outdoors.
