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Local health officials warn of rising tickborne disease cases on the East End
Summary
Local health officials and residents say tickborne illnesses are increasing; Stony Brook Southampton Tickborne Disease Resource Center reported a 35% rise in patients for tick bites in early 2025 and county data show 3,152 Lyme disease cases in 2024; public‑health experts and residents urged awareness and prevention measures.
A local public‑health update and residents’ accounts on Friday painted a picture of rising tickborne illnesses on the East End.
Hazel Sheek of LTV’s East End News reported that the Stony Brook Southampton Tickborne Disease Resource Center and Clinic logged a 35% increase in patients seen for tick bites in 2025 compared with 2024. At a March 10 East Hampton Town Board presentation, two committee members — Dr. Scott Campell and Dr. Josh Stillman — outlined the species of ticks present locally and the diseases they can carry.
A member of the East Hampton Town tick action committee who identified themself as Terry said the situation is worrying. “It’s out of control and there’s not much that we can do except stick to what we’re going to try to do,” Terry said.
A resident who spoke during the report described several local severe cases: “Four of my closest friends, two of them have been taken to the hospital in an ambulance for alpha‑gal. Somebody that also nearly died from Lyme disease. I had late‑stage Lyme meningitis three years ago,” the resident said, urging more community awareness.
County data cited in the report list a range of tickborne diseases in Suffolk County, with Lyme disease the most commonly reported: 3,152 Lyme cases were recorded as of 2024. Karen Wolfrat, administrative director of the Stony Brook Southampton Tickborne Disease Resource Center and Clinic, told LTV in an email that changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition in 2022 allow reporting in high‑incidence areas on lab evidence alone rather than requiring both clinical symptoms and lab confirmation. Wolfrat said that change makes recent counts closer to the true number of people with Lyme disease.
Public‑health officials and the tick action committee urged residents to take preventive steps — checking for ticks after outdoor activity, using repellents approved for tick protection, and seeking medical advice promptly for symptoms — and to consult local clinic guidance and the Suffolk County government website for more information.
The report did not describe any new local regulation or county funding specifically targeted to a tick program; contact information and clinic resources were referenced for residents seeking care or guidance.
