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State guide · AlaskaLyme disease in Alaska
How common Lyme disease is in Alaska, which ticks spread it, when to be careful, and where to turn for care.
Case numbers come from CDC’s 2023 annual notifiable disease tables, the most recent year CDC has published. Rates use U.S. Census 2023 population estimates. Reported cases undercount real infections. How to read these numbers.
How common is Lyme disease in Alaska?
In 2023, Alaska reported 2 Lyme disease cases, about 0.3 per 100,000 residents, well below the national rate. Because the ticks that spread Lyme are not widespread here, many cases may be linked to travel to higher-risk areas.
Which ticks spread Lyme in Alaska?
Neither of the two ticks that spread Lyme disease in the U.S. is widespread in Alaska, according to CDC tick maps: the blacklegged tick lives mainly in the eastern states and the western blacklegged tick along the Pacific coast.
When to be most careful
Ticks are uncommon in much of Alaska. If you develop a rash or fever after a tick bite, or after traveling to areas where Lyme is common, tell your doctor where you have been.
How to protect yourself
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent (such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD or 2-undecanone).
- Treat clothing and gear with permethrin.
- Check your body, children and pets for ticks after being outdoors.
- Shower soon after coming inside, and tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks.
Found an attached tick? Remove it right away. Here’s what to do after a tick bite, and the symptoms to watch for over the next few weeks.
Where to get care in Alaska
Start with your primary care provider, an urgent care clinic or a telehealth visit, especially if you have a rash or fever after a tick bite. Tell them about any tick bite and where you have traveled. For complicated or lingering symptoms, ask about a referral to an infectious disease specialist. We are building a care finder with clinics that treat tick-borne illness; until then, here’s how Lyme testing works.
Official resources
- Alaska Department of Health: No reports of people contracting Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Alaska.
- CDC: Lyme disease
We are collecting real experiences about Lyme disease in Alaska from people who have lived it, shared with their permission. As stories come in, they will appear here, clearly marked as personal experience rather than medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lyme disease common in Alaska?
Alaska reported 2 cases in 2023, about 0.3 per 100,000 residents (fewest reported on our map). Reported cases undercount real infections, so take precautions in tick habitat either way.
What tick carries Lyme disease in Alaska?
The ticks that spread Lyme are not widespread here. In the U.S., Lyme is spread by the blacklegged tick (East and Midwest) and the western blacklegged tick (Pacific coast).
Can I get Lyme disease in Alaska if reported cases are low?
Low reported numbers do not mean zero risk. Some infections are never reported, and cases are counted where people live, not where they were bitten. If you have symptoms after a tick bite or travel, see a healthcare provider.