Ticks and the illnesses they cause have been on the rise in recent years, with some species spreading rapidly into new areas. While it’s important to cover up and use insect repellent when you’re in the woods, what about when you’re in your own backyard?

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. According to the CDC, about 476,000 new cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in the United States every year.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and the Central Shenandoah Health District is reminding everyone to stay alert about the dangers of ticks when heading outdoors.

To keep yourself safe outside, wear long pants and tuck them into your socks, wear light colored clothing and put on plenty of tick repellent.

Now that the weather is warming, ticks are once again reemerging. If you like to spend time outdoors, it’s important to keep an eye out for the little critters since they can carry Lyme disease.

According to Doug Pfeiffer, an entomology professor at Virginia Tech, the snow and cold actually help insects like spotted lanternflies and ticks.

As temperatures rise, so does the threat of ticks—and it’s not just people at risk. Dogs that spend time outdoors are especially vulnerable to the diseases these pests carry. Whether you’re on a hike or just out in the backyard, ticks could be closer than you think—and your dog might be the one picking them up.

May is Lyme disease awareness month.

In response to the growing number of patients managing this syndrome, Centra has released A Cookbook and Guide for Alpha-Gal, developed by dietitians, nutrition services and medical caregivers.

The two insects look very similar, but one is completely harmless and the other can transmit diseases.

The Roanoke City/Alleghany Health District is warning about the dangers of ticks and the importance of checking for them.

If you’ve been outside, you may have seen the ticks.

Tick season is back, and 10 News talked with a doctor and professor with Virginia Tech’s Carilion Clinic.

Tick season usually peaks between May and July, and then again in the fall.

As the weather gets warmer, tick season is upon us.

Most people think of ticks being out and about in the summer, but fall is when a dangerous species of ticks, the black-legged tick, is most active.

Common places for ticks include tall grass and in brushy forested areas, but it’s not unheard of to find them while you’re in your outside in your neighborhood or doing yard work. That’s why experts want you to be vigilant.

Ticks carry more than a dozen diseases, but there are precautions you can take.