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Outdoor Activities Can Increase Exposure to Ticks in Wooded, Rural, and Densely Vegetated Areas of the United States. Photo Credit: Kamaji Ogino / Pexels.


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Lone Star Ticks Are Spreading: What Travelers Need to Know

Tick Bites Can Transmit Diseases and Trigger a Potentially Serious Allergy to Meat and Other Mammal Products.

Travelers planning to hike, camp, observe wildlife, or participate in other outdoor activities in different parts of the United States should be aware of the lone star tick, a species that can pose a risk to people spending time in wooded, rural, and densely vegetated areas. The species is widely distributed across the Northeast, South, and central parts of the country, and its presence has received increasing attention from public health authorities.

The lone star tick, scientifically known as Amblyomma americanum, gets its name from the distinctive white spot found on the back of the adult female. Unlike some tick species that remain still while waiting for a host to pass by, this tick can actively move toward people and animals. Both nymphs and adult females can bite humans.

A Bite Can Have Delayed Consequences

One of the major concerns associated with this species is alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy that can develop after a tick bite. Alpha-gal is a sugar molecule found in most mammals but not in humans.

In some people, a tick bite can cause sensitization that later triggers allergic reactions after consuming mammalian meat or other products derived from mammals. An especially important characteristic for travelers is that these reactions do not necessarily occur immediately after eating. Symptoms can appear several hours later, making it difficult to associate them with a particular food or with a tick bite that occurred during a trip.

Symptoms can include hives, swelling, gastrointestinal problems, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, anaphylaxis can occur, a potentially life-threatening reaction that requires immediate medical attention. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that hundreds of thousands of people in the country may be affected by alpha-gal syndrome, although the exact number remains difficult to determine.

For travelers, this means that a bite can go unnoticed during a hike, a night of camping, or a visit to a rural area, while its consequences may appear later, even after the traveler has returned home.

Simple Measures Can Reduce the Risk

The possibility of encountering ticks does not mean travelers should avoid outdoor activities. Preventive measures recommended by the CDC include using repellents registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), such as products containing DEET or picaridin, as well as using clothing and equipment treated with 0.5% permethrin when appropriate.

Wearing long pants and clothing that reduces exposed skin can also help, particularly when walking through tall grass, brush, or dense vegetation. After spending time outdoors, travelers should carefully check their bodies, clothing, backpacks, and other equipment. Showering after returning indoors can help remove ticks that have not yet attached to the skin.

Tick checks are especially important after activities in forests, trails, rural parks, and other areas where ticks may be present. If a tick is found attached to the skin, removing it promptly and properly can reduce the risk of some tick-borne diseases.

For people traveling through the United States by road, visiting natural parks, or participating in nature-based activities, making tick checks part of the routine after outdoor activities is a simple safety measure. Knowing where ticks may be present and taking basic precautions can help travelers enjoy natural areas without turning a hike or camping trip into an unnecessary health risk.

By Heydi Bernal for Ruta Pantera on 10/5/2026 8:35:24 AM


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References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). About Alpha-Gal Syndrome.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). Managing Alpha-Gal Syndrome.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). Lone Star Tick Surveillance.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). Where Ticks Live.
Los Angeles Times. (2026, October 4). How the Aggressive Lone Star Tick Unleashed a Hidden Meat Allergy on Millions of Americans.


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