Home/Lyme by state/Maryland
State guide · MarylandLyme disease in Maryland
How common Lyme disease is in Maryland, 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 Maryland?
Maryland is one of the 16 jurisdictions CDC classifies as high-incidence for Lyme disease. In 2023 it reported 2,470 cases, about 40 for every 100,000 residents, 1.5 times the national rate. Since 2022, high-incidence jurisdictions can report cases based on lab results alone.
Maryland compared with neighboring states (2023)
| State | Reported cases | Per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 3,242 | 183.2 |
| Pennsylvania | 16,671 | 128.6 |
| Maryland | 2,470 | 40.0 |
| Delaware | 349 | 33.9 |
| Virginia | 1,747 | 20.0 |
| Washington, D.C. | 108 | 15.9 |
Which ticks spread Lyme in Maryland?
The blacklegged tick, often called the deer tick, is the tick that spreads Lyme disease in Maryland. It is widely established across the eastern United States, according to CDC. The same tick can also spread anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus. The lone star tick and the American dog tick live here too, but CDC says they do not spread Lyme.
When to be most careful
Risk is highest from late spring through summer, when young ticks called nymphs are active. Nymphs are about the size of a poppy seed and easy to miss. Adult blacklegged ticks are active in the fall and can bite on warm winter days, so tick checks matter year-round.
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 Maryland
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
- Maryland Department of Health: Lyme disease is the most common tickborne disease in Maryland.
- CDC: Lyme disease
We are collecting real experiences about Lyme disease in Maryland 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 Maryland?
Maryland reported 2,470 cases in 2023, about 40.0 per 100,000 residents (high on our map). Reported cases undercount real infections, so take precautions in tick habitat either way.
What tick carries Lyme disease in Maryland?
The blacklegged tick, often called the deer tick. The lone star tick and American dog tick do not spread Lyme.
Do reported case numbers show my real risk in Maryland?
Not fully. Reported numbers undercount real infections: some are never reported, and cases are counted where people live, not where they were bitten. Whatever the numbers, if you have symptoms after a tick bite or travel, see a healthcare provider.