Courtesy Photo by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) The blacklegged tick (also referred to as a “deer tick”) is a well-established tick in the Upper and Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. These ticks can carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.

ALPENA — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says that Lyme disease cases in Michigan have increased by 165% within the last five years. Anaplasmosis is also on the rise.

According to an MDHHS press release, the state recorded 452 Lyme disease cases in 2020 and 1,215 cases in 2024. However, anaplasmosis — a different bacterial disease spread by ticks — increased from 17 cases in 2020 to 82 cases in 2024.

District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) reported that in 2020, there were two confirmed Lyme disease cases in Alpena, one in Cheboygan, and zero in Presque Isle and Montmorency. In 2024, three cases were reported in Alpena, two cases in Presque Isle, and zero in Cheboygan and Montmorency.

Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne disease in Michigan, according to the MDHHS. Anaplasmosis, caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is the second most common tick-borne disease in Michigan.

Signs and symptoms of tick-borne diseases typically begin one to two weeks after a tick bite, MDHHS reported. Early symptoms can include fever or chills, rash, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. According to the MDHHS, early treatment with antibiotics can decrease the risk of serious complications from tick-borne diseases.

However, MDHHS says that prevention is the best way to prevent tick-borne diseases.

“If you find a tick attached to your body, promptly remove it,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive, said in the press release. “Monitor your health, and if you experience fever, rash, muscle or joint aches or other symptoms, or if you suspect a tick has been attached for more than 24 hours, consult with your medical provider.”

MDHHS explained that both Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are transmitted by blacklegged ticks (“deer ticks”) and are well-established in parts of Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The press release explained that these ticks have been expanding their range in Michigan.

According to MDHHS MiTracking Climate Changes MI Health Michigan Ticks report, milder winters and longer, hot and humid summers encourage ticks to be active much longer. The report explains that ticks are spreading into areas that were once too cold for them.

The District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) explained in a press release that ticks can live in grassy or wooded areas and on the animals they feed off. Further, the press release stated that tick season in Michigan typically runs from March to November, and blacklegged ticks are active anytime outdoor temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

To track cases of tick-borne diseases, several regional and state agencies partner to conduct surveillance for these diseases in people and animals, according to the DHD4.

“Tick surveillance data can be important to explaining and predicting epidemiological trends in disease transmission,” Devin Askwig, DHD4 community health director/epidemiologist, said.

For example, free tick identification resources are available at michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/topics/mitracking/ticks.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.