Upstate NY Tick Surge: Lyme, Anaplasma and Babesia Cases Explode

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Tick-borne illnesses are surging across Upstate New York, with Lyme disease cases climbing amid sharp increases in anaplasmosis and babesiosis. The New York State Department of Health reports Lyme affecting more than 20,000 residents annually, while SUNY Upstate Medical University's tick lab data reveals stark trends: anaplasma in ticks rose from 2% in 2019 to 18% in early 2025. Dr. Chris Paulino, an infectious disease specialist at Upstate, treated just two anaplasmosis cases from 2016-2020 but saw 19 last year alone. High fevers and severe headaches mark the illness, which can lead to complications if untreated, especially in children and seniors[1][2]. In Ballston Spa, state researcher Melissa Prusinki dragged woods for ticks this 2026 season, described as the decade's most dangerous start with bite reports at a 10-year high. Upstate's lab, led by Dr. Saravanan Thangamani, has tested over 35,000 ticks since 2019, finding more than a third carrying at least one pathogen. Central New York Lyme cases jumped 439% from 2008-2018 baselines, with 970% in the Finger Lakes and 817% in the Southern Tier, prompting the third annual Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Summit on Sept. 19-20[2][3]. Co-infections amplify the threat, per a Cary Institute and SUNY Upstate study of 2014-2022 ticks: 1 in 10 nymphs carried multiple pathogens, with Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme) and Babesia microti (babesiosis) pairing in nearly 11% by study's end. Lyme prevalence in nymphs hit 19.3%, rising 5.7% yearly, while babesiosis grew prevalent enough to outpace it in final years. Experts urge testing for both after bites in Northeast hotspots like New York's woods and fields[4]. State officials recommend precautions: wear permethrin-treated clothing, use DEET repellent, check for ticks daily and remove them promptly. The CNY Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Alliance backs clinician training to combat the spread in high-risk areas from Ballston Spa to the Southern Tier[1][2][3].