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​Maryland Department of Health
May 5, 2026

Media Contact:
Amanda Hils, Assistant Director for Media Relations, [email protected]

Maryland ​Department of Health urges Marylanders to protect against tickborne diseases

Baltimore, MD – In recognition of Tickborne Disease Awareness Month, the Maryland Department of Health is launching a tickborne disease prevention campaign encouraging Marylanders to take simple precautions to prevent illness from infected ticks. 

“With the warmer weather and increased outdoor activity upon us, we want Marylanders to enjoy and explore the state’s beautiful nature while also prioritizing their health,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “We want them to safeguard their health by knowing about ticks and the ways to protect people and pets against the diseases ticks carry.”​

To help reduce the spread of disease, the Department’s tickborne disease prevention campaign provides Marylanders with weekly tips on what to do before, during, and after outdoor activities to prevent tick exposure and recognize the symptoms of tickborne diseases. 

Sample graphic. Ticks are most active during warmer months. Do daily tick checks. Use EPA-registered insect repellent. 

Lyme disease is the most common tickborne disease in Maryland. In 2024, more than 3,000 cases were reported statewide. Symptoms include rash, fever, headache, joint pain and fatigue. If left untreated, Lyme disease can spread to your joints and nervous system. Contact your health care provider or local health department if any of these symptoms develop, and you may have come into contact with a tick. Most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics. 

The best way to avoid tickborne diseases is to avoid ticks and their habitats. Ticks prefer humid environments and are commonly found outdoors in leaf litter, weeds, tall grasses, shrubs, and woods. While spending time outdoors and especially while hiking, stay on a marked path and in the center of the trail.

To prevent tick exposure and bites:

  • Use EPA-approved insect repellents, such as DEET, picaridin, or IR3535
  • Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks
  • Wear long pants and sleeves, and tuck your pants into your socks or boots
  • Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin
  • Consider purchasing permethrin-treated clothing and gear
  • Shower as soon as possible after returning indoors 
  • Dry your clothes on high heat for 10 minutes once you get home to kill any ticks on clothing
  • Perform a tick check on yourself, children, and pets after being outside in a tick habitat
  • Talk to your veterinarian about ways to protect your pets 
While Lyme disease is the most prevalent tickborne disease in Maryland, ticks can also transmit babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia. Spring marks the start of tick season, but Marylanders should continue checking for ticks after outdoor activities through the fall.

To learn more about tickborne diseases and ways to protect your family and pets, visit health.maryland.gov/tick.

For weekly updates on protecting you and your family from tickborne diseases, follow the Department on Facebook and Instagram throughout May. 

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The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement. 

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