Blacklegged tick nymphs, or ticks that are not fully grown, pose an even greater risk when it comes to tick-borne diseases than their fully grown counterparts, said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

A survey of more than 5,000 adult blacklegged ticks in Pennsylvania – including at least 50 in each county – showed 58% were carrying Lyme disease.

“This year in particular, we are seeing increases in the number of Lyme disease reports across the state, and clinicians are reporting that they are seeing more cases of other tick-borne diseases,” Johnson said.

The Tick Research Lab, based in East Stroudsburg, said 33% of the more than 33,600 deer ticks they’ve tested have been infected with Lyme disease.

About 2% of the non-deer ticks tested had the disease.

Both deer ticks and non-deer ticks carry other diseases as well.

For example, 16% of non-deer ticks tested by the Tick Research Lab were infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a tick-borne disease that causes a rash but can also be potentially fatal.

“As tick-borne diseases are becoming more prevalent in Pennsylvania, it is critical to be aware of the risks and be prepared when spending time outdoors year-round, whether that is visiting one of our 121 state parks, hiking our more than 2.2 million acres of state forestland, or enjoying your own backyard,” said Cindy Dunn, secretary of the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Medical experts at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh noted last week there has been a “dramatic increase” in Lyme diseases cases among children – up 50% compared to 2018 and 2020, the hospital’s previous record years, said Dr.