Westchester County

Tick Borne Diseases

Tickborne Diseases

Open a larger image of three species of human-biting ticks in new windowThe Tickborne Disease Info-line, (914) 813-LYME, is available 24-hours-a-day with current information about tickborne diseases and their prevention.

Health Department staff perform active outreach to identify trends in Lyme Disease, human ehrlichiosis and other tick-borne diseases. Thousands of reports are received annually from physicians or laboratories for investigation.

These activities assure that the Health Department has an accurate picture of Lyme Disease and ehrlichiosis in the county and that physicians are provided with the most up-to-date tools to prevent, diagnose and treat tick-borne diseases.

A relatively new and potentially more deadly tickborne disease, ehrlichiosis, continues to spread in Westchester County. Education, prevention of tick bites and recognition and treatment of early signs and symptoms remain our best weapon in the battle against tickborne diseases. Another tickborne disease, babesiosis, is now found in Westchester County also.

The illustration above, courtesy of the CDC, includes three human-biting tick species found in the United States. Only Ixodes ticks are known to transmit the Lyme disease bacterium to humans. Click on the image to see a larger image.
 
image of ticks aligned on a rulerBlack-legged ticks, Ixodes scapularis (image top), are responsible for transmitting Lyme disease bacteria to humans in the northeastern and north-central United States. On the Pacific coast, the bacteria are transmitted to humans by the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus.  Ixodes ticks are much smaller than common dog and cattle ticks. In their larval and nymphal stages, they are no bigger than a pinhead. Ticks feed by inserting their mouths into the skin of a host and slowly take in blood. Ixodes ticks are most likely to transmit infection after feeding for two or more days.

The image above right illustrates the various sizes of the tick family based on a centimeter scale.  Reading from left to right are the deer tick adult female, adult male, nymph, and larva. The image is courtesy of Centers for  Disease Control.

Be Tick Free

Brochures

Fact Sheets

Other Resources

Tick Identification and Testing Services
Ticks generally need to be attached for at least 24 hours before they can pass along infections such as Lyme disease. Daily tick checks and proper removal are one of the most effective way to prevent such infections.
 
Residents interested in identifying a species of tick they have removed from a person or pet should call the tick testing labs listed below prior to sending their tick because each lab has its own packaging and shipping requirements. The list below is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as an endorsement of any particular laboratory or procedure.

Cornell Cooperative Extension
Tick Identification and Environmental Control
c/o Horticulture Laboratory
10 Patriot Hills Drive
Stony Point, NY 10980
1-845-429-7085
Service: Tick is identified to species.  They will NOT test for Lyme disease.
Fee: $7.00

Analytical Services, Inc.
Tick Testing
130 Allen Brook Lane
Williston, VT 05495
1-800-723-4432 x 44
Service: Tick is identified to species and tested for Lyme disease.
Fee: $65.00

Imugen, Inc.
315 Norwood Park
SouthNorwood, MA 02062
1-800-246-8436
Service: Tick is identified to species and tested for Lyme disease.
Fee: $75.00

Westchester Medical Center
Lyme Disease Hotline
(914) 493-8425, tick ID

Monroe County Vector Control
4221 Manor Drive
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
570-992-0154
Service: Free Tick Identification

Northeast Infectious Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Applied DNA Services
East Stroudsburg University
403 Normal Street
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
1-570-422-7885 
Tick Submission Form
Service: Tick is identified to species and tested for Lyme disease.
Fee: $75.00