An alarming number of ticks from the Hudson Valley tested positive for Lyme disease.

Across New York State, 51% of adult ticks tested carry Lyme disease. Around 27% of nymphs carry Lyme bacteria, according to state health officials. Nymphs are harder to see and are more likely to pass the disease to humans, officials say.

The Hudson Valley is home to the most deer ticks and has the highest percentage of ticks carrying Lyme disease, according to NYUP.com. 82% of ticks tested from Orange County tested positive for the Lyme bacteria, officials say.

The New York State Department of Health recently released results from their deer tick study. Researchers take the average of two collection sites per county. Below are the results from counties in the Hudson Valley.

Columbia County

  • Adult infection rate: 45.3%
  • Adult density: 156
  • Nymph infection rate: 21.1%
  • Nymph density: 74.1

Dutchess County

  • Adult infection rate: 32%
  • Adult density: 44.2
  • Nymph infection rate: 28%
  • Nymph density: 35

Orange County

  • Adult infection rate: 82%
  • Adult density: 130.6
  • Nymph infection rate: 42%
  • Nymph density: 122.2

Rockland County

  • Adult infection rate: 58%
  • Adult density: 118.6
  • Nymph infection rate: 8.2%
  • Nymph density: 81.3

Sullivan County

  • Adult infection rate: 56.3%
  • Adult density: 60.1
  • Nymph infection rate: 39.2%
  • Nymph density: 97.8

Ulster County

  • Adult infection rate: 42.2%
  • Adult density: 41.6
  • Nymph infection rate: 24%
  • Nymph density: 21.8

Westchester County

  • Adult infection rate: 34%
  • Adult density: 21.1
  • Nymph infection rate: 36%
  • Nymph density: 177.6

No data was collected from Putnam County.

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