Tick-borne illnesses are on the rise in the U.S., with experts pointing to climate change, growing tick populations, and improved disease tracking as contributing factors. Thomas Hart from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said, "It does seem like it'll be sort of a hot year for ticks."

While ticks can cause several illnesses, Lyme disease is by far the most common. More than 89,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by state health departments and the District of Columbia in 2023, but the agency says many more cases aren't reported.

If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause serious health problems. Hart explained, "Early symptoms of Lyme disease, unfortunately, are going to look a lot like the flu, so there'll be things li

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