How Long Does It Take a Tick to Transmit Illness?

Finding an attached tick naturally leads us to wonder how long it’s been attached.

The answer to that question can play an important part in determining whether the tick has had enough time to transmit a virus or bacteria. However, there is no single amount of time that applies to every type of tick or every tick-borne illness.

Lyme Disease Requires a Long Attachment, But…

Time is usually on our side when it comes to Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an infected black-legged (deer) tick requires more than 24 hours of attachment before transmitting the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Finding and removing a tick promptly can significantly reduce the chance for Lyme disease infection.

That doesn’t mean you have time to wait to remove the tick. Ticks should be removed the moment they are found.

Powassan virus is a very different story. Research has shown that an infected tick can transmit this rare but potentially fatal illness to animals in as little as 15 minutes of attachment. And while the minimum attachment time is not firmly established for humans, this research demonstrates why removing ticks immediately is important.

Alpha-gal syndrome has been making headlines over the last year. Rather than an infection that is caused by bacteria or a virus, this illness is an allergy that develops after a tick bite. When a person is exposed to alpha-gal via tick saliva, an immune response can be triggered. To-date, scientists haven’t been able to establish a minimum attachment time requirement for a tick bite to cause alpha-gal syndrome.

Simply put, there is no universally “safe” tick attachment period. Check yourself, your children, and your pets immediately after spending time outdoors, and remove ticks immediately.

Newton tick control through Mosquito Squad Plus’ Complete Home & Yard plan provides year-round treatment for ticks, fleas, and other pests with potential to transmit illness. The fewer ticks around your property means the fewer opportunities for unwanted tick bites and the potential for a tick-borne illness.

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