WEHA Wednesday Webinar, May 13th, 2026; Title Ticks and Tick borne Diseases

The incidence of tick-borne disease in the United States is increasing, with an estimated 470,0000 cases of Lyme disease reported annually. Wisconsin ranks amongst the top 10 states for reported cases of tick-borne diseases and has seen the emergence of several new tick-borne pathogens since 2010, including Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis, Borrelia mayonii, and Borrelia johnsonii. The blacklegged tick (also known as the deer tick), Ixodes scapularis, is the primary vector of multiple human pathogens. In this webinar, I will provide a snapshot of the current distribution of ticks in Wisconsin and discuss tick encounter risk along with personal protective behavior to reduce tick bites.