Year in Review: The year of the tick
Looking back on 2025 as a turning point when ticks became one of the defining issues on Martha’s Vineyard, shaping daily life and public health concerns.
A major focus is the rapid rise of alpha-gal syndrome, a serious allergy to meat and dairy caused by lone star tick bites. This newer condition has intensified concern beyond already well-known diseases like Lyme, making the overall tick crisis feel more urgent and widespread.
The piece emphasizes that ticks are not a new problem, but 2025 brought heightened awareness, fear, and national attention, with some even calling it the “summer of the tick.” Islanders increasingly see ticks as a constant, year-round threat rather than a seasonal nuisance.
Highlighting, the small group of local experts and public health workers leading efforts to study and manage ticks. However, their work faced uncertainty due to federal funding cuts, prompting community support efforts like fundraising to sustain research and response programs.