Michigan health officials alarmed by surge in Lyme disease cases

MACOMBCOUNTY,Mich.–HealthofficialsacrossMichiganareraisingalarmsaboutasignificantsurgeinblack-leggedticks,whichcarryLymediseaseandothertick-borneillnesses. TheMichiganDepartmentofHealthandHumanServicesreportsa168%increaseinLymediseasecasesstatewideoverthelastfiveyears,with1,215casesin2024comparedto452in2020. WayneCountyhasseena65percentriseinLymediseasecasessofarin2025comparedto2020,accordingtoAvaniSheth,MD,MPH,chiefmedicalofficeratWayneCountyDepartmentofHealth,Human&VeteransServices. Thedepartmentconductsannualticksurveillanceinlocalparksandoutdoorareastomonitortickpopulationsandtestforpathogens. JoeDecaussin,anenvironmentalistwiththeMacombCountyHealthDepartment,explainedthatblack-leggedtickshavebecomeestablishedinnorthernMacombCountyoverthepastfewyears.Heusesamethodcalleda“tickdrag,”whereaclothisdraggedacrosswoodedareastocollectticksforidentificationandtesting. Decaussinsaidthemonitoringprogram,whichbeganin2019,