Green Lakes ranks second on national list for tick-borne illness concerns
Fri, August 21, 2026 at 11:06 PM
A popular destination for thousands of walkers and runners, Green Lakes is now drawing attention for a different reason: concerns about tick-borne illness
FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. —A popular destination for thousands of walkers and runners, Green Lakes is now drawing attention for a different reason: concerns about tick-borne illness
Green Lakes was ranked second on a WorldAtlas national list highlighting tick-borne illness concerns. The list is not a count of cases traced to the park. It considers regional Lyme <a href="https://healthylife7.com/fda-clears-blood-test-to-aid-evaluation-for-alzheimers-disease/” title=”FDA clears blood test to aid evaluation for Alzheimer’s disease”>disease numbers, research and firsthand reports
Dave Knable, a biologist who spends a lot of time outdoors, said he routinely checks for ticks after being in the woods or on trails
“So, when I hike or mountain bike in the woods or in trails, afterwards I’ll check for ticks,” Knable said
Knable said his brother had Lyme disease, which added to his questions about the ranking
State health officials say Lyme disease cases are rising in New York
“You know, if I just look at the data from last year, excluding New York City, we had almost 23,000 cases of Lyme disease in New York State. So that’s more than we had in the last year and even the year before that,” said Dr. Jim McDonald, the New York state health commissioner
Health experts recommend making tick checks part of the routine before and after time on the trail, and taking precautions such as using repellent and wearing light-colored clothing. Officials also advise checking children and pets after spending time outside
Knable said he also takes steps to protect his dog, Achi
“So, for Achi, she has a collar that helps prevent bugs and ticks in general also from attaching,” Knable said
McDonald urged people to focus on prevention before illness sets in
“The problem is, the time to become attuned to this isn’t after you’re sick. You know, they say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” he said
