LOWER WINDSOR TWP, PA — Pennsylvania officials on Monday urged residents to take precautions against tick bites and Lyme disease as the summer recreation season brings more visitors to the state’s parks and forests, where exposure risks remain widespread.
Representatives from the Pennsylvania Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Health, and Environmental Protection gathered at Samuel S. Lewis State Park in York County to highlight prevention measures and promote public awareness of tick-borne illnesses. The outreach comes as Pennsylvania continues to rank among the nation’s leaders in Lyme disease cases.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health recorded 18,747 laboratory-confirmed Lyme disease cases last year. While most infections can be treated with antibiotics, untreated cases can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system, according to state health officials.
To help residents assess local risk levels, the Department of Health maintains an online dashboard showing areas where ticks are prevalent across the commonwealth.
“Spending time in nature has many benefits to both physical and mental well-being,” Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen said. “However, it’s important to do so safely, by taking precautions beforehand and doing tick checks after.”
State officials noted that ticks can be found in urban, suburban, and rural environments, particularly in tall grass, shrubs, leaf litter, and wooded areas. Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection conducts tick surveillance and testing statewide, with ticks now present in every county.
“Ticks are found in every county, from Philadelphia to Erie, so a few simple steps can help ensure your time spent outdoors is safe and enjoyable,” DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley said.
Officials recommended covering exposed skin, wearing light-colored clothing, using EPA-approved insect repellents, treating clothing and gear with permethrin, and conducting thorough tick checks after outdoor activities. Showering soon after returning indoors and placing clothing in a dryer on high heat can also help reduce exposure risks.
The warning coincides with peak outdoor recreation season across Pennsylvania’s 125 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forestland, which are managed by DCNR and remain open to the public year-round.
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