Participation in outdoor activities surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as people sought a safe recreation alternative that didn’t require a face mask and social distancing. After all, being outdoors to enjoy camping, hiking and fishing meant fresh air and a greatly reduced risk of exposure to the virus.

As it turns out now, being outdoors is far from risk-free.

A jaunt through Pennsylvania’s parks and forests also means potential exposure to a small insect that potentially carries some serious illnesses — the tick. And the risk of becoming ill is growing. The number of cases of tick-borne diseases is spreading across the state, a direct correlation to a spike in the tick population.

The state’s acting physician general, Dr. Denise Johnson, said recently that the rise in the population of blacklegged ticks, commonly called deer ticks, has led to increases in reported cases of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, both of which cause dangerous and sometimes debilitating illness.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists symptoms of Lyme disease as fever, headache, fatigue and a rash. If untreated, it can spread to the joints, the heart and the nervous system. Anaplasmosis carries similar symptoms — fever, headache, chills and muscle aches.

Pennsylvania had the most confirmed cases of Lyme disease in 2019, according to the CDC, and the numbers continue to rise this year as people avail themselves of the summer weather and access to the region’s many parks and wooded areas.

The increasing number of blacklegged ticks, which have been found in every county in the state, should be a concern for those eager to enjoy the outdoors. Taking some commonsense precautions can reduce the risk of disease from tick bites.

Officials with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recommend covering exposed skin with lightweight and light-colored clothing and avoiding tall grass and dense shrubbery where ticks are most often found. They also suggest applying an insect repellent before heading into wooded areas or wearing tick-repellent clothing treated with permethrin.

Most importantly, if you do become ill after a tick bite or spending time outdoors, seek medical treatment quickly. That can make all the difference in the severity of an illness.

People can continue to enjoy the outdoors, but a bit of caution and awareness will make the experience less risky.

First Published: August 3, 2021, 4:00 a.m.