{"id":18068,"date":"2026-04-20T13:57:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T17:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=18068"},"modified":"2026-04-20T13:57:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T17:57:57","slug":"virginia-department-of-health-and-the-virginia-department-of-agriculture-and-consumer-services-offer-tips-on-tick-bite-prevention-to-protect-health-of-virginians","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/virginia-department-of-health-and-the-virginia-department-of-agriculture-and-consumer-services-offer-tips-on-tick-bite-prevention-to-protect-health-of-virginians\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia Department of Health\u00a0and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services\u00a0Offer Tips on Tick Bite Prevention to Protect\u00a0Health\u00a0of Virginians"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR\u00a0IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/span><\/b> – April 20,\u00a02026\u00a0<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Logan Anderson,\u00a0Logan.Anderson@vdh.virginia.gov<\/p>\n

Virginia Department of Health\u00a0and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services\u00a0Offer Tips on Tick Bite Prevention to Protect\u00a0Health\u00a0of Virginians<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(<\/span>RICHMOND, Va.<\/span><\/b>) \u2014<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>As spring arrives and the weather warms up, tick activity\u00a0increases\u00a0around\u00a0Virginia.\u00a0Increased\u00a0tick\u00a0activity\u00a0means that\u00a0Virginians need to be aware of the\u00a0risks\u00a0that\u00a0ticks\u00a0can\u00a0pose to\u00a0people.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a physician, this is the time of year when I\u2019d start seeing patients come in with tick-borne illnesses\u00a0\u2014\u00a0often beginning with a rash, but sometimes leading to serious, life-altering conditions,\u201d said<\/span>\u00a0State Health Commissioner Dr. Cameron Webb<\/span><\/b>. \u201cHere in Virginia, we know this risk is real. The good news is that prevention is within our control\u00a0\u2014\u00a0simple steps like using repellent and checking for ticks can make a meaningful difference. As more people head outdoors, building those habits into our routines is one of the best ways to protect our health.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are several\u00a0illnesses\u00a0that ticks\u00a0can\u00a0spread\u00a0in Virginia, including\u00a0Lyme disease,\u00a0Rocky Mountain\u00a0spotted\u00a0fever,\u00a0and\u00a0Alpha-gal\u00a0Syndrome.\u00a0Some ticks\u00a0begin\u00a0seeking\u00a0a source of food \u2013 you \u2013 as soon as the temperature\u00a0gets above freezing.\u00a0Now is when you should be mindful of their presence and\u00a0begin\u00a0taking precautions to prevent bites.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ticks are typically found in shady, moist, humid areas, specifically in tall, brushy vegetation\u00a0and\u00a0leaf litter in and\u00a0around\u00a0wooded areas.\u00a0Anyone who spends time outside\u00a0should\u00a0be aware of ticks and take precautions.\u00a0Farmers,\u00a0foresters, and others who spend lots of time outside\u00a0should be\u00a0particularly\u00a0vigilant. Farmers should also\u00a0regularly\u00a0check\u00a0their animals\u00a0for ticks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“After contracting Alpha-gal\u00a0Syndrome from a tick bite in 2022, I\u2019ve experienced firsthand how life-altering tick-borne illnesses can be. This condition significantly changed my daily routine and is a constant reminder that tick prevention is a necessity, not an option,” said\u00a0<\/span>Charles Green, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services<\/span><\/b>. \u201cFor our farmers, foresters, and families who spend their lives outdoors, taking appropriate preventive measures is a simple but vital step to protect your long-term health.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The VDH\u00a0<\/span>tick website<\/span><\/a>\u00a0has information for people on how to\u00a0<\/span>prevent tick bites<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>what to do if you are bitten<\/span><\/a>\u00a0by a tick.\u00a0If a person is bitten by a tick, VDH\u00a0can also provide tick identification\u00a0assistance\u00a0through\u00a0our\u00a0<\/span>Virginia Citizen Tick Survey<\/span><\/a>\u00a0at no cost.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The best way to avoid tickborne\u00a0illnesses\u00a0is\u00a0to\u00a0prevent tick bites.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n