Blacklegged Ticks Expanding Southward, Increasing Lyme Disease Risk in the U.S.

Populations of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are expanding beyond their traditional ranges in the Northeast and upper Midwest of the United States, raising concerns about an increased risk of Lyme disease and other tickborne infections. A public health alert is warranted for clinicians in newly affected regions, such as western North Carolina, who may have limited experience diagnosing and managing these diseases.