Kent County Lyme disease cases surge 1,800% as ticks spread across Michigan
There is a concerning trend as we head into spring. The number of ticks and tick-borne illnesses is increasing.
From 2016 to 2020 in Kent County, there were only about 11 cases of Lyme disease a year. However, in data only completed through September, 2025 saw 216 cases of Lyme disease.
“We’re going from 10, 11, 12 cases to hundreds of cases a year now,” said Dr. Andrew Jameson, infectious disease physician at Trinity Health Medical Group. “We really think that it’s a combination of the type of ticks that are moving and where they’re moving. Much of that is being driven by climate change.”
Jameson explained the culprit is called the black-legged tick, which was not originally in Michigan. Now, it’s in almost every county, bringing disease with it.
Lyme disease is treated with an oral antibiotic. However, Jameson called Lyme a “real troublesome thing,” in that it can have lasting effects long after the disease is technically gone.
“What happens to people is they feel terrible for months,” said Jameson. “There’s something called a post Lyme syndrome, which you can have body aches, joint aches, it can mess with your immune system, it can mess with your nervous system, and that can last a year to two years. It actually has a lot of similarities with long COVID, but it’s not actually Lyme disease anymore. If you get more antibiotics, it doesn’t help.”
The early symptoms of Lyme disease include a bullseye rash, fever and body aches.
Lyme disease does not spread from human to human. It is only carried by ticks. This is why it is vital to take preventative measures when outside.
Wear long pants and tuck them into socks. Tuck in shirts to pants. Make sure to do a tick check once back inside.
“Be tick aware. There’s more coming, and so just be careful,” said Jameson.
The state of Michigan also has a tick identification program. Through the state health department, you can upload a photo of a removed tick for identification. They can tell you if it is a disease-carrying type of tick or not.
