Tick activity is increasing across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and concerns about tick-borne illnesses are no longer limited to Lyme disease. Experts are seeing more tick species and additional tick-borne illnesses, including the rare but serious Powassan virus, which can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes after a tick bite.
According to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), visits to emergency departments for tick bite-related incidents were higher than the four-year average throughout April 2026 and continued to be slightly higher than average in June and July. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in Pennsylvania, and the state typically ranks among the top 10 states in the country for Lyme disease cases per 100,000 residents.
Ticks can be found in rural, suburban, and urban settings alike — typically in shrubs, weeds, leaf litter, and tall grasses — and can be present anywhere there is foliage. Taking proper steps to reduce the chances of being bitten is key.
Enjoy the outdoors this summer, including Scranton’s 32 public parks, but take a few simple precautions to help prevent tick-borne illnesses. The Pennsylvania DOH and Department of Environmental Protection offer the following tips for tick bite prevention:
- Cover exposed skin and wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks.
- Use EPA-approved insect repellent for tick prevention.
- Before heading outdoors, treat shoes, clothes, and gear with permethrin.
- After coming indoors, check yourself, children, and pets thoroughly for ticks and remove any promptly.
- Shower soon after spending time outside to help wash away ticks that may have gone unnoticed.
- Place clothes in the dryer on high heat to kill any remaining ticks.
If you remove a tick, consider saving it for identification and testing. The Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab at East Stroudsburg University offers free tick testing for Pennsylvania residents.
For more information about tick safety in Pennsylvania, visit health.pa.gov/ticks. Available resources provided by the state DOH include prevention guides, information about tick-borne diseases, and a dashboard of data on tick-borne diseases.
ABOUT THE CITY OF SCRANTON: Incorporated in 1866, the City of Scranton has a population of approximately 76,000 residents and is the sixth-largest municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Scranton City Hall is located at 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Residents requiring services should visit www.scrantonpa.gov
ABOUT MAYOR PAIGE G. COGNETTI: Paige G. Cognetti was sworn in as the 36th Mayor of Scranton in January 2020 and took her third Oath of Office in January 2026. Her administration is focused on public safety, driving economic growth, upgrading infrastructure, government transparency and efficiency, and improving residents’ overall quality of life.
Scranton and State Officials Warn About Tick Season | Press Release
Last modified: July 20, 2026
