Tick season is here and that means it’s time once again for people to protect themselves and their loved ones (including pets) from tick bites. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an updated digital press kit available for journalists with the latest information about the increasing number of reported tickborne illnesses, newly discovered disease-causing germs, expanding ranges of ticks, and a novel tick species recently found in the United States.

Last year, nearly 60,000 cases of tick-borne disease were reported to CDC by state health departments and the District of Columbia. Though we can’t predict how bad any particular season will be, we know that reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense against Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other tick-borne infections.

For more information on Lyme Disease and tickborne illnesses, visit the new resource: https://www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/diseases-and-conditions/lyme-disease/index.html.