Most people know that ticks can spread Lyme disease.
Far fewer people realize that a tick bite can potentially expose a person to several other infections.
That matters because ticks are not simply a problem for dogs. Humans can also become infected with diseases carried by ticks, and some of those illnesses can be serious if they aren’t recognized and treated promptly.
A recent example comes from Suffolk County, New York, where health officials confirmed at least four human cases of tularemia, a rare bacterial infection sometimes called “rabbit fever.” NBC New York reported that the cases were associated with tick exposure among some patients.
The story is particularly interesting because a 2026 CDC-published study found that New York recorded 30 reported tularemia cases between 1993 and 2023, with 43% of those cases occurring in Suffolk County. Researchers also detected the bacterium that causes tularemia in a pool of ticks collected in Suffolk County.
That doesn’t mean every tick carries disease or that every bite will make someone sick. Most tick bites do not result in a serious infection.
But understanding what ticks can transmit—and what symptoms deserve medical attention—is an important part of spending time outdoors safely.
Here are five diseases worth knowing about.
Ticks Can Carry More Than One Kind of Infection
Ticks are tiny parasites that feed on the blood of animals and people.
During that process, an infected tick can sometimes transmit bacteria, viruses or other pathogens to its host.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists numerous tick-borne diseases in the United States. Symptoms vary depending on the infection, but common symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and, in some cases, a rash.
This is one reason a tick bite can be difficult to interpret.
A person may not even realize they were bitten. Some ticks are extremely small, particularly in their nymphal stage, and a bite may go unnoticed.
And unlike a dog, a person cannot rely on a veterinarian or pet owner to routinely check their body for ticks.
That makes awareness important.
1. Tularemia — The “Rabbit Fever” Most People Have Never Heard Of
Tularemia is probably the disease getting the most attention from the current Long Island cases.
It is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis and can be transmitted in several ways, including through bites from infected ticks and deer flies, contact with infected animals, contaminated food or water, and inhalation of contaminated material.
Despite the nickname “rabbit fever,” a person does not have to come into contact with a rabbit to become infected.
Ticks can play an important role.
Why the 2026 research matters
The CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal published a study in January 2026 examining tularemia in New York from 1993 through 2023.
Researchers identified:
- 30 reported tularemia cases during the study period
- 43% of the cases in Suffolk County
- 69% of Suffolk County cases occurring during 2014–2023
- One death among the cases studied
- F. tularensis detected in one pool of nymphal ticks collected in Suffolk County
The researchers also noted that tularemia remains rare in New York overall, averaging fewer than one case per year during the period studied.
So the research does not suggest that tularemia is suddenly widespread throughout New York.
Instead, it highlights something more useful: disease risk can be highly localized, and ongoing surveillance of both people and ticks can help public health officials understand where exposure is more likely.
What symptoms can occur?
Tularemia can take several forms depending on how someone becomes infected.
Symptoms can include fever, skin ulcers, swollen lymph nodes and other illness patterns. The CDC research notes that ulceroglandular and glandular forms were the most common among New York cases for which enough clinical information was available.
The disease is treatable with appropriate antibiotics, which is another reason recognizing a possible exposure and seeking medical evaluation can matter.
Read the 2026 CDC research
For readers who want to examine the evidence behind the New York findings, this is the study I’d prominently link within the article:
CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases: “Tularemia in New York, USA, 1993–2023”
This is much stronger than linking only to the original news report because readers can go directly to the underlying research.
2. Ehrlichiosis — Another Tick-Borne Infection to Know
Ehrlichiosis is caused by bacteria transmitted primarily through certain species of ticks.
The disease can cause fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue.
Some people may develop a rash, although a rash is not present in every case.
One of the challenges with ehrlichiosis is that its early symptoms can look like many other infections.
Someone who develops a fever after spending time in an area with ticks might not immediately connect the illness to a tick bite—especially if they never noticed the tick.
That’s why telling a healthcare professional about recent outdoor exposure can be useful.
Ehrlichiosis can become serious, particularly when treatment is delayed.
The CDC recommends seeking medical attention when symptoms develop after a possible tick exposure rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe.
3. Anaplasmosis — Often Confused With Other Infections
Anaplasmosis is another bacterial infection transmitted by ticks.
It is particularly associated with the blacklegged tick, the same general tick group involved in Lyme disease transmission in much of the Northeast and upper Midwest.
Symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
Like other tick-borne illnesses, anaplasmosis can initially resemble influenza or another common infection.
That can make the exposure history important.
Someone who develops unexplained fever and body aches after spending time hiking, gardening or camping may want to tell a healthcare provider about the possibility of a tick exposure.
The important point isn’t that every fever after outdoor activity is a tick-borne disease.
It is that tick exposure is useful information for a medical professional trying to determine what might be causing the symptoms.
4. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever — A Serious Illness That Can Progress Quickly
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or RMSF, is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii and is transmitted by infected ticks.
Despite its name, RMSF isn’t limited to the Rocky Mountains.
It has been reported in different parts of the United States.
Symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Nausea
- Rash
One important reason health professionals take RMSF seriously is that severe illness can develop rapidly.
A rash may also not appear immediately, meaning people should not assume that the absence of a rash rules out the disease.
The broader lesson is important: waiting for every textbook symptom before seeking care can be risky with some tick-borne infections.
If someone develops a significant illness after possible tick exposure, medical evaluation is appropriate.
5. Powassan Virus — The Rare Tick-Borne Disease With No Specific Treatment
Powassan virus is very different from the bacterial diseases discussed above.
It is a virus, and certain ticks can transmit it to humans.
Most people infected with Powassan virus do not develop symptoms, according to public-health information. But in some cases, the infection can affect the nervous system and cause serious illness.
Symptoms of severe disease can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Memory problems
- Loss of coordination
There is currently no specific medicine that cures Powassan virus infection. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and supporting the patient.
Fortunately, Powassan virus disease is uncommon.
But it is an important example of why “tick-borne disease” doesn’t simply mean Lyme disease.
Why Do People Usually Think Only About Lyme Disease?
There’s a simple reason.
Lyme disease is by far one of the best-known tick-borne infections in the United States, particularly in the Northeast and upper Midwest.
The disease has received extensive public attention, and the characteristic expanding rash associated with some cases has become familiar to many people.
But ticks can carry different pathogens.
The CDC notes that tick-borne illnesses can produce overlapping symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and, for some diseases, rashes.
That overlap makes self-diagnosis particularly unreliable.
A person shouldn’t look at a symptom list online and conclude that they definitely have a particular disease.
Instead, the useful takeaway is:
If you’ve had a possible tick exposure and become sick afterward, tell your healthcare provider.
That information can help guide testing and treatment decisions.
A Tick Bite Doesn’t Mean You Will Get Sick
This is perhaps the most important thing to understand.
Finding a tick on your body does not automatically mean you have a disease.
There are several factors involved:
- Whether the tick was carrying a pathogen
- What species of tick it was
- How long it was attached
- Where the exposure occurred
- Which pathogen was involved
- Whether transmission actually occurred
Even in areas where tick-borne illnesses are present, the majority of tick encounters do not necessarily result in infection.
That is why people shouldn’t panic after finding a tick.
The appropriate response is to remove it safely, monitor for symptoms and follow local health guidance.
Why Tick Checks Matter After Outdoor Activities
One of the simplest ways to reduce risk is also one of the easiest to overlook.
Check yourself for ticks after spending time outdoors.
Ticks can attach to less obvious locations, including:
- Behind the knees
- Around the waist
- In and around the ears
- Around the hairline
- Between the legs
- Under the arms
Children may need help checking areas that are difficult to see.
Pets should also be checked regularly.
This is where the misconception that ticks are mainly a “dog problem” can become dangerous.
Dogs can certainly be affected by tick-borne diseases, but people can be exposed too.
A family that checks its dog after a hike should also remember to check themselves.
What Should You Do If You Find a Tick?
If you find an attached tick, don’t panic.
The CDC recommends removing an attached tick as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers.
The general approach is to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure.
After removal, clean the bite area and your hands.
Avoid relying on methods such as burning the tick, covering it with petroleum jelly or using other substances intended to make it detach.
If you develop symptoms afterward, tell your healthcare provider that you had a tick exposure and, if possible, describe when and where it occurred.
That information can be valuable when determining whether testing or treatment is appropriate.
When Should You Talk to a Doctor?
A tick bite by itself doesn’t necessarily require emergency medical care.
But developing symptoms after a possible exposure is a different situation.
Seek medical advice if you develop symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Significant headache
- Unusual fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Chills
- Rash
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Confusion or neurological symptoms
The timing and severity matter.
For serious symptoms—particularly difficulty breathing, confusion, seizures, severe weakness or other signs of an emergency—seek urgent medical attention.
Most importantly, tell the healthcare professional about the tick exposure.
Some tick-borne diseases are easier to treat when recognized early.
Also Read: 7 Alarming Ways Water System Cyberattacks Could Affect Everyday Americans
Why Tick Surveillance Matters
The 2026 CDC-published research on New York tularemia provides an excellent example of why scientists don’t only study sick people.
They also study the ticks themselves.
Researchers collected more than 27,000 ticks in Suffolk County during surveillance between 2019 and 2023 and tested thousands of pooled samples for F. tularensis. One pool of nymphal ticks tested positive.
This type of surveillance helps scientists understand where pathogens exist and where human exposure may be more likely.
The researchers found that tularemia cases tended to occur among residents of areas with higher tick density, although they also emphasized the limitations of the data and the fact that tick infection prevalence was low.
That’s an important distinction.
Finding a pathogen in ticks does not mean every tick in that area is infected.
It means researchers have evidence that the pathogen exists in the local environment and can continue studying how transmission occurs.
Are Tick-Borne Diseases Becoming More Common?
This question is more complicated than it may seem.
Tick populations and tick-borne disease patterns can change because of many factors, including:
- Temperature
- Rainfall
- Wildlife populations
- Habitat
- Human development
- Outdoor activity
- Surveillance
- Diagnostic practices
The 2026 New York tularemia study noted that changes in temperature and precipitation could potentially affect the seasonal window of tick activity and disease transmission, but that is a research consideration—not proof that climate change caused the recent Long Island cases.
The study also noted that nationally reported tularemia cases increased by 56% during 2011–2022 compared with 2001–2010, while pointing out that improved diagnostics may have contributed to the increase.
This is why careful reporting matters.
It’s tempting to blame one factor for every increase.
The reality is usually more complicated.
The Bigger Lesson: Ticks Are a Human Health Issue Too
For many years, people have associated ticks with pets, especially dogs.
That’s understandable. Dogs spend a lot of time outdoors, and veterinarians regularly warn owners about ticks.
But the same environments that expose pets to ticks can expose their owners.
A hike through tall grass.
A walk through a wooded park.
Gardening in the backyard.
Playing outdoors.
Even spending time in suburban areas with suitable tick habitat.
None of these activities should cause people to avoid the outdoors.
The goal is simply to understand the risk and take reasonable precautions.
The CDC recommends measures such as using appropriate insect repellent, avoiding areas with heavy brush and tall grass when possible, checking for ticks after outdoor activities and removing attached ticks promptly.
Ticks are tiny, but the diseases they can transmit are a much bigger subject than many people realize.
Lyme disease gets most of the attention, but it isn’t the only infection associated with tick bites.
Tularemia, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Powassan virus are among the other illnesses Americans should know about.
That doesn’t mean people should be frightened every time they walk through a park.
It means they should understand that ticks can affect humans as well as animals.
The recent tularemia cases on Long Island are a timely reminder, while the 2026 CDC research provides a much broader look at how one rare tick-borne disease has appeared in New York over three decades.
The practical takeaway is simple:
Enjoy the outdoors, take sensible precautions, check for ticks, remove them promptly and pay attention to unusual symptoms after a possible exposure.
And if you become sick after a tick bite, tell a healthcare professional about the exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
H3: Can ticks make humans sick?
Yes. Ticks can transmit several bacterial and viral infections to humans, including Lyme disease, tularemia, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Powassan virus.
Can a tick bite cause rabbit fever?
Yes. Tularemia, sometimes called rabbit fever, can be transmitted by infected ticks. It can also spread through other routes, including contact with infected animals.
Does every tick carry disease?
No. Most ticks do not carry a pathogen capable of causing human disease, and a tick bite does not automatically mean someone will become infected.
Is Lyme disease the only disease caused by ticks?
No. Several other diseases can be transmitted by ticks, and the specific risks vary by geography and tick species.
What should I do after finding a tick?
Remove an attached tick promptly using fine-tipped tweezers, clean the area and monitor for symptoms. If you become ill afterward, tell your healthcare provider about the tick exposure.
CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases — Tularemia in New York, USA, 1993–2023
CDC tick guidance
CDC — About Ticks and Tickborne Disease
News source
NBC New York — Long Island reports another case of rare tick-borne sickness
NBC New York reported that Suffolk County had confirmed at least four human tularemia cases as of August 5, 2026.