PODCAST:
June 9, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson talk with Vector-Borne Disease Epidemiologist with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Rachel Burkholder about Michigan’s tick population.
MICH. ~ Lyme disease cases are rising rapidly in Michigan, as they have almost quadrupled since 2022, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The tick population explosion has been the main reason for this increase, since blacklegged ticks are the primary carriers of the disease.
“They love our hot, humid summers, and Michigan is just covered in perfect ecology for their habitat,” Burkholder said. “So the forested areas that we have. And there are a lot of animals that spread ticks and spread disease.”
Lyme disease can appear as a bullseye-shaped rash that doesn’t itch and is not painful. If left untreated, it can evolve into meningitis, arthritis, or more severe symptoms.
