Article Summary
Vector-borne diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes are on the rise across the United States, and understanding the risks — along with how to protect yourself — has never been more important. Key topics include: the difference between well-known illnesses like Lyme disease and lesser-known threats such as anaplasmosis, orthonairoviruses, and nairoviruses; the emerging concern around SFTS and the rapidly spreading Asian longhorned tick; nootkatone as an EPA-registered, non-toxic alternative to traditional insect repellents; and practical prevention strategies for protecting yourself, family, and pets during peak tick season.
For those looking to build natural resilience alongside these prevention strategies, Nicole’s Apothecary Eastern Blend — featuring Chinese Skullcap, Japanese Honeysuckle, Japanese Knotweed, and Cordyceps Mushroom — is formulated to support the body's immune response and natural anti-inflammatory processes. Learn more at nicolesapothecary.com.
What new tick-borne diseases are spreading in the US?
If you enjoy spending as much time as possible in nature like I do, you are most likely familiar with at least a few vector-borne illnesses spread by ticks and mosquitoes: Lyme disease, dengue fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Zika. Now, researchers are seeing a rise in several little-known diseases in the USA spread by ticks. What is especially concerning is that several of these pathogens are extremely effective at evading detection by the immune system and can cause serious consequences — even death. While this is a sobering reminder that the great outdoors can pose health risks, preparation and a bit of knowledge can go a long way in keeping you and your family safe from the rising threat of these diseases.
"It is true that both mosquito and tick-borne illness reports, more inclusively called 'vector-borne' illnesses, are increasing, in part possibly due to regional climate changes and expanding insect and tick habitats" - Dr. Natasha Wyndham Hanners, infectious disease specialist at Children’s Health and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center [ 1 ]1. Melissa Fluer Afshar. "A Tick-Borne Disease With No Warning Rash Is Spreading Across the U.S.." Newsweek, July 17, 2026.
As insect habitats continue to change and expand throughout the USA, we are experiencing an increase in new tick-borne diseases spreading in the US. Ease of international travel is also introducing these pathogens into North America. Here are the top four you should be aware of:
Anaplasmosis: A bacterial infection transmitted by the blacklegged (deer) tick. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches — but unlike Lyme disease, it doesn't cause a telltale bull's-eye rash. That missing symptom is exactly what makes it difficult to catch: without a blood test, both patients and doctors can easily overlook it. Most commonly found in the Northeast and upper Midwest — particularly Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, and Wisconsin with Vermont reporting the highest number of cases.[ 2 ]2. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). "Anaplasmosis." September 4, 2024.
Orthonairoviruses: This is a family of tick-borne viruses and it includes one particularly deadly member — Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, known for causing severe hemorrhagic illness in humans. Newer research has found that these viruses carry specialized proteins capable of disabling the immune system's early-warning signals, letting the virus slip past detection.[ 6 ]6. David S. Gonzalez, Amritpal Jalf, Vanessa Moresco, Joseph Garcia, Lukasz Jaroszewski, David Matta, Jonathan Nguyen, Bryan Torres, Éric Bergeron, Adam Godzik, Scott D. Pegan. "Insights into the Structure and Function of the OTU Protease Virulence Factors from Emerging Human Nairoviruses." ACS Infectious Diseases, 2026. While the disease is endemic in Eastern and Southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and Asia, an alarming incident did occur in November of 2025 at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana where a lab worker was bitten by an infected monkey. However, to-date there are no documented cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever or the Hyalomma tick that carries the disease in the USA — but some researchers are concerned that international travel paired with changing weather patterns may introduce the insect and disease to North America in the future.
Nairoviruses: A wider, still-emerging category of tick-borne pathogens that encompasses orthonairoviruses. Scientists recently discovered a nairovirus called PCTNV carried by the Pacific Coast tick (Dermacentor occidentalis), which is found across most of California, southern Oregon, and northern Baja California, Mexico. No human cases have been confirmed yet, but in lab testing its immune-evading enzyme outperformed every other one studied — a finding that's prompting closer scrutiny of whether it poses a risk to humans.[ 6 ]6. David S. Gonzalez, Amritpal Jalf, Vanessa Moresco, Joseph Garcia, Lukasz Jaroszewski, David Matta, Jonathan Nguyen, Bryan Torres, Éric Bergeron, Adam Godzik, Scott D. Pegan. "Insights into the Structure and Function of the OTU Protease Virulence Factors from Emerging Human Nairoviruses." ACS Infectious Diseases, 2026.
Another vector-borne illness that should be on your radar is SFTS (severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome) caused by a phlebovirus spread by the Asian long horned tick. It was first identified in central China in 2009 and has since spread across several East Asian countries. In humans, it causes fever, low platelet counts, fatigue, and can be serious: human mortality rates from SFTSV infection range from 6% to 30%.
The Asian long horned tick was found in New Jersey back in 2017 and has now spread into nineteen states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The female does not need to mate to reproduce and researchers believe the ticks spread via migratory birds, leading to the rapid spread of colonies. While the ticks have a strong foothold in the USA, there have been no documented cases of the SFTS virus to date.[ 3 ]3. Zhang, X., Zhao, C., Cheng, C., Zhang, G., Yu, T., Lawrence, K....Zheng, A. "Rapid Spread of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus by Parthenogenetic Asian Longhorned Ticks." Emerging Infectious Diseases 28(2), 363-372 (2022).
How To Prevent Tick Bites
The best way to protect you and your family from vector-borne diseases is prevention. Over the years the CDC has recommended using insect repellents such as DEET to avoid insect bites and reduce the risk of disease, but due to concerns over human and pet toxicity, many choose not to use them. Insects are also becoming increasingly resistant to chemical insecticides.
However, there is good news! In July 2020 the EPA announced registration of the natural tick repellent nootkatone. A compound found in Alaska yellow cedar trees, it's also present in grapefruit skin. Nootkatone is already used widely in the food industry as a natural flavoring and is considered non-toxic to humans and pets. When tested in the field, it was found to be highly effective in repelling and killing insects in a unique way that's different from other insecticides such as pyrethroids, organophosphates, carbamates, and cyclodienes.[ 5 ]5. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). "Nootkatone." April 24, 2024.
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The CDC also recommends wearing light-colored long sleeve shirts and pants, then tucking the pant legs into your socks when outdoors. Hats are helpful too. After spending time outside or in nature, showering and checking your skin for ticks — especially the scalp, behind the knees and ankles, and back — is crucial. Use tweezers to firmly grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it slowly straight up. Avoid twisting or squeezing the tick to prevent it from releasing pathogens into your body. Disinfect the tick site after removal. Don't forget to check your pets as well. Pets who spend time outdoors are one of the top ways ticks are spread to humans.
The Takeaway
New tick-borne diseases spreading in the US isn't a reason to stay indoors — instead, be informed and prepared. Alongside practical prevention habits like natural insect repellents, proper clothing, and tick checks for you and your pets once you return from the outdoors, I believe in giving your immune system a boost too. Real resilience against these risks comes from our everyday habits — including supporting foundational health with our powerful Eastern Blend.
Nicole Apelian
Actions Steps & FAQs
Action Steps
- Wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing and tuck pant legs into socks when spending time outdoors.
- Apply an EPA-registered repellent, considering nootkatone as a natural, non-toxic option.
- Shower and perform a full-body tick check immediately after outdoor activity, paying close attention to the scalp, behind the knees, ankles, and back.
- Remove any attached tick promptly using tweezers, pulling straight up without twisting, and disinfect the site afterward.
- Check outdoor pets for ticks regularly since they're one of the most common ways ticks make their way to humans.
- Consider incorporating Nicole’s Apothecary Eastern Blend into your daily routine as an added layer of protection.
FAQ
Are vector-borne diseases becoming more common in the United States?
Yes. Researchers have observed a rise in both mosquito- and tick-borne illness reports, which experts attribute in part to regional climate changes and expanding tick and insect habitats across the country.
What is the difference between anaplasmosis and Lyme disease?
Both are spread by the blacklegged (deer) tick, but anaplasmosis does not cause the telltale bull's-eye rash associated with Lyme disease, which makes it easier for patients and doctors to overlook without a blood test.
Has Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever been found in the United States?
No. There are currently no documented cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever or the Hyalomma tick that carries it in the United States. However, researchers are watching for potential introduction through international travel and shifting weather patterns.
Is the Asian longhorned tick dangerous?
The tick itself has spread rapidly (now found in nineteen U.S. states) and can carry the SFTS virus, which has caused serious illness in parts of Asia. However, no cases of SFTS have been documented in the United States to date.
What is natural tick repellent nootkatone?
Nootkatone is a naturally occurring compound found in Alaska yellow cedar and grapefruit skin. It was registered by the EPA in 2020 as an active ingredient in insect repellents and is considered non-toxic to humans and pets, offering an alternative to traditional chemical repellents.
Nicole's Apothecary Products in this Post
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References
- A Tick-Borne Disease With No Warning Rash Is Spreading Across the U.S. by Melissa Fluer Afshar, Newsweek, July 17, 2026. https://www.newsweek.com/new-tick-virus-threats-emerge-experts-have-warning-12202649
- Anaplasmosis, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), September 4, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/anaplasmosis/about/index.html
- Zhang, X., Zhao, C., Cheng, C., Zhang, G., Yu, T., Lawrence, K....Zheng, A. (2022). Rapid Spread of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus by Parthenogenetic Asian Longhorned Ticks. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 28(2), 363-372. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2802.211532. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/28/2/21-1532_article#
- About Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), July 1, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/crimean-congo-hemorrhagic/about/index.html
- Nootkatone, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), April 24, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vector-borne-diseases/communication-resources/press-kit-nootkatone.html
- David S. Gonzalez, Amritpal Jalf, Vanessa Moresco, Joseph Garcia, Lukasz Jaroszewski, David Matta, Jonathan Nguyen, Bryan Torres, Éric Bergeron, Adam Godzik, Scott D. Pegan; Insights into the Structure and Function of the OTU Protease Virulence Factors from Emerging Human Nairoviruses. ACS Infect. Dis. 2026. https://pubs.acs.org/aidcbc/article/doi/10.1021/acsinfecdis.6c00320/5203616/Insights-into-the-Structure-and-Function-of-the
