News
A collection of local and national news on ticks, tick-borne illnesses and Tick Free MV
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Vineyard Gazette: Are We Spraying Away the Balance?
A Martha's Vineyard gardener raises questions about the ecological impact of widespread tick spraying, calling for a more thoughtful conversation about protecting human health without undermining the island's living systems.
CNN: The Bugs Are Getting Worse. Here's What You Need to Know.
A national overview of the expanding threat of vector-borne disease, covering the surge in tick-borne illnesses including Lyme, alpha-gal, and the self-cloning Asian longhorned tick with a mention of Martha's Vineyard, alongside mosquito risks, prevention tips, and emerging treatments.
The New York Times: The Ticks Are Winning. We Don't Have to Let Them
A compelling opinion essay arguing that the U.S. must move beyond individual tick prevention toward a coordinated, federally funded response. Drawing on the history of malaria eradication and the rapid spread of Lyme disease, alpha-gal, and other tick-borne illnesses across the eastern United States.
The New York Times: Tick Risks Are Changing Across the U.S.
A region-by-region look at how shifting deer populations, climate change, and land use are expanding tick ranges and bringing new disease risks — including Lyme, alpha-gal, and spotted fever — to new parts of the country.
The Newyorker: The Tick That Hunts Down Its Hosts—Including Us
A sweeping long-form feature tracing the global spread of alpha-gal syndrome, centered on Martha's Vineyard and featuring Patrick Roden-Reynolds, Lea Hamner, and Virginia Barbatti. Staff writer Burkhard Bilger also travels to Missouri to document the syndrome's devastating toll on farming families, situating the Vineyard as both ground zero and a potential testing ground for solutions. Published in the July 6 & 13 print issue as "The Great Infestation."
The MV Times: Gov. Healey Backs Island Leaders on Tick Mitigation
Additional coverage of the West Tisbury tick roundtable, with fuller context on the economic stakes, the Wampanoag Tribe's concerns about chemical treatments, and striking data from Lea Hamner — including 300 new alpha-gal cases in just three months and 200 new Lyme cases since January.
The Vineyard Gazette: Governor Pledges Support in Fight Against Ticks
Governor Healey joins Island leaders at a West Tisbury roundtable to discuss state funding and action on deer management, alpha-gal data collection, and tick bite prevention on Martha's Vineyard.
The Vineyard Gazette: Tick Free MV Proposes New Plan to Thin Out Deer Herd
Tick Free MV announces a concrete goal of reducing the island's deer population by 70 percent, using expanded hunting seasons and state deer damage permits to enable year-round harvesting.
NPR: Morning Edition - Tick Season is Getting Worse. Can Managing Deer Help?
A national look at the link between deer populations and rising tick-borne illness, featuring Virginia Barbatti and Lea Hamner, with an overview of population-level solutions being explored.
NPR: All Things Considered -"Ticks Surge in the Northeast"
A radio segment on rising tick activity across the Northeast, featuring Virginia Barbatti and Lea Hamner on Martha's Vineyard's lone star tick and alpha-gal crisis, alongside expert prevention tips and a look at emerging solutions.