The federal government is putting nearly $3 million into research on whether ticks can be controlled at the source by treating the deer and rodents they feed on. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the awards through the CDC and NIH on Sept. 28. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) gave the funding to two of CDC's regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases.
According to HHS, nearly 31 million people in the United States may be bitten by a tick each year, and more than half a million Americans are diagnosed with a tick-borne disease annually. HHS said cases are rising and spreading to new areas.
"Tick-borne diseases are spreading across America, and HHS is taking action to stop them at the source," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
For people in high-risk areas, the research could eventually mean fewer ticks in backyards and parks. The projects are pilots, however, and results are not expected soon.
Treated Deer Feed and "Super Baits" for Rodents
The projects will test whether feeding wildlife a tick-killing chemical, called an acaricide, can reduce local tick populations. HHS compared the approach to giving dogs oral flea and tick preventives.
The first project targets deer, which sustain populations of adult blacklegged ticks, the main carriers of Lyme disease, and lone star ticks, which are most often linked to alpha-gal syndrome. Researchers will give deer acaricide-treated feed. A female tick needs a full blood meal to produce eggs, so killing or weakening her while she feeds on a treated deer can break the tick's life cycle.
The second project targets rodents, which are key hosts for young blacklegged ticks and a natural reservoir for the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Bait boxes will deliver feed containing an acaricide, an antibiotic, or both. These next-generation "super baits" are meant to kill feeding ticks and reduce infection in the animals themselves.
"The ultimate goal is simple but ambitious: reduce the number of ticks to stop tick bites and tick-borne diseases," said Lyle Petersen, director of CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases.
NIH's role focuses on the illnesses themselves. "As tickborne diseases increase in the United States, NIH is committed to advancing research to better understand these illnesses and their immunological consequences," said Dr. John H. Powers III, acting director of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Tickborne Illness by the Numbers
Lyme disease makes up the largest share of the burden. More than 80,000 Lyme cases are reported to CDC each year, while an estimate based on insurance claims suggests about 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated annually. CDC notes that the claims estimate may be too high because billing codes do not always reflect a confirmed diagnosis.
Alpha-gal syndrome is a growing concern. The condition, most often linked to Lone Star tick bites, can cause allergic reactions after people eat red meat or are exposed to other mammal products. CDC identified more than 110,000 suspected cases from 2010 to 2022 and estimates that as many as 450,000 people may be affected.
This year's tick season also started strong. Emergency department visits for tick bites rose more than 25% in April 2026 compared with April 2025, according to CDC data cited in MedicalDaily's earlier coverage of rising tick bite ER visits. Fall does not end the risk, because adult blacklegged ticks can stay active on warmer autumn and winter days.
Two Regional Centers Will Lead the Pilots
The pilot projects will be carried out by the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases, based at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Both are CDC-supported centers that link academic research with public health work in regions heavily affected by Lyme disease.
HHS did not say how the nearly $3 million will be split, where field sites will be located, or how long the studies will run. The announcement also did not describe how researchers will measure success, such as fewer ticks in an area or fewer human infections.
Petersen said the effort is designed to evaluate large-scale use of wildlife-targeted tick control. Even if tick counts fall in study areas, researchers will still need to show that fewer people get sick.
Protecting Your Household This Fall
Personal prevention remains the most reliable protection. CDC recommends using EPA-registered insect repellents, treating clothing and gear with permethrin, walking in the center of trails, and checking your body, children, and pets after time outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors can help wash off ticks that have not yet attached.
If you find an attached tick, remove it promptly with clean, fine-tipped tweezers, grasping it close to the skin and pulling upward with steady, even pressure. Watch for fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, or an expanding rash over the following weeks, and see a clinician if these develop. People who get hives, stomach pain, or swelling several hours after eating beef, pork, or lamb should ask a clinician about alpha-gal testing.
Trouble breathing, facial or throat swelling, or severe dizziness requires emergency care. Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotics, and early treatment tends to work best.
Key Questions Answered
What did HHS announce?
CDC and NIH awarded nearly $3 million to two CDC Centers of Excellence to test tick-killing feed for deer and bait boxes for rodents.
How common are tick-borne diseases?
HHS says more than half a million Americans are diagnosed with tick-borne diseases each year, and nearly 31 million may be bitten by ticks.
Will this reduce ticks near my home soon?
Not immediately. These are pilot projects, and HHS has not released timelines, field sites, or expected results.
What symptoms should people watch for after a tick bite?
Watch for fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, or an expanding rash. Delayed allergic reactions after eating red meat may signal alpha-gal syndrome.
How can I lower my family's risk now?
Use EPA-registered repellents, treat clothing with permethrin, check skin and pets after time outdoors, and shower soon after coming inside.
Are ticks still a concern in the fall?
Yes. Adult blacklegged ticks can remain active on warmer autumn and winter days.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
