Orange County warns residents to guard against ticks, mosquitoes

Orange County health officials are pushing residents to take bite prevention seriously as summer outdoor time surges, pointing to ticks and mosquitoes as a real public-health risk, not just a nuisance. The county said the danger is sharpest in the places people spend the most time outside: parks, trails, sporting events, brushy yards and other outdoor spaces.

In a June 16 announcement, County Executive Steve Neuhaus and the Orange County Department of Health said ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. Mosquitoes can spread West Nile virus and other illnesses, a warning that carries added weight in Orange County after the county reported its first West Nile-positive mosquito pool of the 2025 season in Greenwood Lake and later additional positive pools in Goshen.

The county’s guidance is aimed at reducing exposure before a bite happens. Officials said residents should stay on marked trails, avoid tall grass and brush, wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and closed-toe shoes, and choose light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot. They also urged use of EPA-registered repellents including DEET, Picaridin or IR3535.

Orange County also told families to check children and pets after time outdoors, shower soon after coming inside and put clothes in a hot dryer for at least 10 minutes after being outside. Deputy Commissioner of Health Lisa Lahiff said simple precautions can significantly reduce illness risk, underscoring the county’s effort to keep seasonal exposure from becoming an urgent care or emergency room problem later in the summer.

The concern is backed by broader state and federal data. New York State says Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the state, and state health officials said New York averaged more than 17,500 new Lyme cases a year over the last three years, including more than 19,000 cases reported in 2023. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the contiguous United States and that there is no licensed vaccine or medicine to prevent it in people.

Orange County has been building a surveillance and control system around that risk. The county said it partners with SUNY Orange on mosquito monitoring, and in a 2024 release said it treats thousands of storm drains to stop mosquitoes from breeding. The latest warning fits that pattern: a county trying to interrupt tick and mosquito season before it reaches hospitals, neighborhoods and local parks.