Tickborne illnesses like Lyme disease rise with rising temperatures: What you should know

In 2021, the Philadelphia five-county area reported 1,246 cases of Lyme disease, which can affect the nervous system if left untreated, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That's 500 cases more than it had 30 years prior, in 1992. Bucks County and Chester County had the highest Lyme disease incidence in the area, with about 62 and 63 cases per 100k residents, respectively. Ticks are most commonly found in rural areas, particularly in places with tall grass …