NEWS
Does Florida have a tick problem? Lyme disease is here
Liz FreemanFort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News
Aug. 14, 2026, 9:57 a.m. ET
- Florida has seen 126 cases of Lyme disease since June 1, though most are believed to have originated from out-of-state travel.
- Federal health officials warned of a potentially bad tick season for the summer, with Lyme disease incidence typically high in the Northeast and Midwest.
- While possible to contract in Florida, experts and advocacy groups suggest Lyme disease is undercounted and downplayed in the state.
Federal public health officials warned the summer months could be bad for Lyme disease and numbers bear that out in Florida, a state not known for the tick-borne illness
Weekly data from the state Department of Health show there have been 21 cases of Lyme disease statewide, with Collier having the most at 3 cases, for the week of Aug. 2 -8
Since June 1, there have been 126 cases of Lyme disease in Florida, which includes probable and confirmed cases
The data suggests bites from ticks that carry the disease occurred elsewhere that ultimately lead to the illness
Thestate data reports 101 of the 126 cases since June 1 did not originate in Florida. The state said three cases occurred in Florida, four occurred outside of the U.S. and the origins are not known for 18 cases
A likely explanation is summer travel to northern states where black-legged ticks, or deer ticks, are common
Incidence of Lyme disease is high in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest in summer when people are outside more hiking, gardening and playing where exposure to deer ticks is heightened
For the most recent weekly data of Aug 2-8 with 21 cases in Florida, the state says none were acquired in Florida
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control warned this past spring that a bad tick season was expected
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness that is caused by bacteria transmitted by infected black-legged ticks, or deer ticks
Every year, an estimated 31 million people are bitten by a tick, and an estimated 476,000 people are treated annually for Lyme disease
Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headache, fatigue, and skin rash. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system
If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system
So can you get Lyme disease in Florida?
It is possible to get bitten by a disease-carrying tick in Florida and become sick
Lyme disease is a reportable illness in Florida but in April the state DOH’s reportable disease website did not include data for it
A Google search gave this explanation from DOH:
“While Lyme disease is a reportable condition in Florida, it may appear absent or undercounted on public-facing reporting sites due to a reliance on ‘passive surveillance,’ where cases rely on voluntary reporting by providers, leading to significant undercounting.”
“Furthermore, Florida health officials often prioritize reporting for more acute, severe diseases over less common ones, and cases are concentrated in specific, mostly northern areas of the state.”
The Jacksonville-based Florida Lyme Disease Association says “ticks do not know borders and are prevalent throughout the country.”
The group points to a pest control company, Terminix, that said Florida is second after California among five states with a “tick problem.’ That’s based on the number of tick control companies doing business in the five states
The association says Lyme disease is undercounted in Florida based on various data
“Doctors and patients are falsely told that there is “no Lyme in Florida” or that it is extremely rare,” according to the association
“As a result of this downplaying of the risk of Lyme and other tick-borne infections, people, especially parents, are less likely to take steps to prevent tick bites. Additionally, those infected are less likely to receive an early diagnosis.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Florida in 2023 had 271 cases of Lyme disease out of the 89,470 cases nationwide that year
The University of Miami Health System points out that Lyme disease is not common in south Florida but the black-legged tick that causes it is common in Florida
“Because the condition is less common in Florida and its symptoms mimic those of other diseases, it’s easy to overlook,” according to the health system
How to protect yourself?
The recommendation is to wear EPA-registered insect repellent and permethrin-treated clothing, or long sleeves and pants, and do tick checks
If you do find a tick attached to your skin, remove it as soon as possible, within 24 hours, to help prevent Lyme disease
Ticks must usually be attached for 36 to 48 hours to transmit the bacteria
But nymph-stage ticks, the primary transmitters of Lyme disease, are the size of a poppy seed and their bites are painless. They are found in shady, moist areas, leaf litter, and tall grass
Liz Freeman is a health care reporter. Reach her by emailing lfreeman@naplesnews.com
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