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State guide · WashingtonLyme disease in Washington
How common Lyme disease is in Washington, 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 Washington?
In 2023, Washington reported 25 Lyme disease cases, about 0.3 per 100,000 residents, well below the national rate. Risk is uneven across the state and tends to be concentrated where western blacklegged ticks are common.
Washington compared with neighboring states (2023)
Which ticks spread Lyme in Washington?
On the Pacific coast, Lyme disease is spread by the western blacklegged tick, which CDC says is found along the coast and particularly in northern California. It can also spread anaplasmosis. The blacklegged tick of the eastern U.S. does not live here.
When to be most careful
In Pacific coast states, ticks can be active in cooler, wetter months as well as spring and summer. Check for ticks after hiking in grass, brush and wooded areas, and after handling pets.
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 Washington
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
- Washington State Department of Health: Only zero to seven confirmed Lyme cases a year are acquired in Washington.
- CDC: Lyme disease
We are collecting real experiences about Lyme disease in Washington 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 Washington?
Washington reported 25 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 Washington?
The western blacklegged tick.
Can I get Lyme disease in Washington 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.