This is Part 1 of our new five-part Summer Health Series — your go-to guide to staying healthy and out of the ER as Brooklyn and Queens move from spring into summer. Up next: heat exhaustion & heatstroke; swimmer’s ear; summer sports injuries; and travel health for NYC families.
2026 Is Shaping Up to Be a Record Tick Year in New York
The official word from Albany on April 30, 2026: New Yorkers should take precautions against tick-borne illness now. State entomologists are projecting a 10-out-of-10 risk year for tick activity, driven by a mild winter that boosted tick survival rather than killing them off. And right now — late May into June — is when nymphal blacklegged ticks peak. They are the smallest, hardest to spot, and most likely to transmit Lyme disease.
NYC is not immune. In 2024, the NYC Department of Health recorded 2,832 cases of Lyme disease among NYC residents, with 1,801 of those new diagnoses. Tick submissions to research labs in spring 2025 were up 217% compared to the year before. And while Staten Island is the city’s most tick-infested borough, Queens parks like Alley Pond, Forest Park, and Highland Park have all seen rising tick populations carrying Lyme.
If your family spends time in city parks, summer camps, the Catskills, Long Island beaches, or anywhere with grass and brush — this post is for you. We will cover ticks (the urgent priority right now), other bug bites, and sunburn — when each one is fine to handle at home, and when to walk into AG Urgent Care.
Ticks: What’s Different This Year
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in New York, followed by babesiosis and anaplasmosis. All three are spread mostly by the blacklegged tick (also called the deer tick or Ixodes scapularis). And the entire ecology of that tick is changing fast.
| Why 2026 is a higher-risk year | What it means for Brooklyn & Queens families |
|---|---|
| Mild winter increased nymph survival | More ticks active in NYC parks, suburbs, and weekend day-trip destinations |
| Researchers project up to 80% of nymphs may carry Lyme | A higher share of bites can transmit disease, even with rapid removal |
| Nymph season peaks May–July | Right now is the most dangerous window — nymphs are poppy-seed-sized and easy to miss |
| Tick range expanding into NYC parks | Park visits — even short ones — count as exposure if you go off paved paths |
How to Prevent Tick Bites Before They Happen
- Use EPA-registered tick repellent. Look for DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin. Permethrin treats clothing and lasts through several washes.
- Cover skin in tick territory. Long sleeves, long pants tucked into socks, closed-toe shoes — yes, even when it’s hot.
- Stay on cleared, paved paths. Ticks hang out in tall grass, leaf litter, and brushy edges — not the middle of the path.
- Tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes after coming inside — kills any ticks still on fabric.
- Shower within 2 hours of being outside in tick country. Most attached ticks can be found and removed before transmission.
- Do a full-body tick check on yourself, your kids, and your pets. Don’t skip the scalp, behind the ears, armpits, waistband, behind the knees, and groin — ticks love warm, hidden spots.
How to Remove a Tick — The Right Way
If you find a tick attached to you, do not panic. Lyme transmission generally requires the tick to be attached for at least 36 hours, so prompt removal is highly protective. The CDC’s recommended technique:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers. Skip the matches, nail polish, petroleum jelly, and folk remedies — they can make the tick regurgitate into the bite, increasing infection risk.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, by the head — not the body.
- Pull straight up with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk.
- Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Save the tick in a sealed bag or pill bottle. If you develop symptoms later, identifying the species helps your provider.
- Note the date. If you develop a rash, fever, joint pain, or fatigue in the next 30 days, your provider needs to know when the bite happened.
When to Walk Into AG Urgent Care After a Tick Bite
Most tick bites do not require a clinic visit — but several situations do.
| Come in if… | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| You can’t get the tick out, or part of it broke off in the skin | Our providers can remove embedded mouthparts and clean the bite |
| The tick was a blacklegged tick (deer tick) and was attached for 36+ hours | A single 200 mg dose of doxycycline within 72 hours can prevent Lyme — your provider can prescribe it |
| You develop a “bullseye” rash anywhere on your body within 30 days | Erythema migrans (the bullseye rash) is the classic early sign of Lyme — needs treatment promptly |
| You develop fever, chills, headache, joint or muscle aches, or fatigue within 30 days of a bite | These are signs of Lyme, anaplasmosis, or babesiosis and need testing/treatment |
| The bite area becomes red, warm, swollen, or develops pus over the following days | Bacterial skin infection — easy to treat early, more complicated if delayed |
| A child or pregnant person was bitten by a tick attached for several hours | Lower threshold for evaluation — let our providers help you decide on testing or prophylaxis |
Other Summer Bug Bites: Mosquitoes, Spiders, Bees
Most bug bites in NYC are itchy, ugly, and harmless. The job is recognizing the small percentage that are not.
Mosquito Bites
Standard mosquito bites resolve on their own with antihistamine cream and time. Walk into AG Urgent Care if:
- You develop spreading redness, red streaks moving away from the bite, warmth, swelling, or pus — signs of bacterial infection
- You develop fever, body aches, or rash a week or two after a mosquito bite — possible West Nile or other arboviral illness
- A bite swells dramatically (sometimes to the size of a tennis ball) with fever — possible “skeeter syndrome,” a localized allergic reaction
Spider Bites
Most “spider bites” people present with are actually bacterial skin infections, not bites. If you have a painful red bump that grew rapidly, has a black or purple center, or is associated with fever — come in. We can drain abscesses and prescribe antibiotics on the spot.
Bee, Wasp, and Hornet Stings
For most people, stings cause local pain, redness, and swelling that resolves in a day or two. Come into AG Urgent Care for swelling that spreads beyond the immediate sting area, multiple stings, or stings to the mouth or throat. Call 911 immediately for any sign of anaphylaxis: difficulty breathing, throat tightness, hives spreading across the body, dizziness, or fainting.
Sunburn: When It’s More Than Just Painful
Brooklyn’s UV index can hit 8 or 9 on a clear day — high enough to cause meaningful sun damage in under 30 minutes for fair-skinned people. Most sunburns are first-degree: red, painful, no blisters. Those resolve at home with cool compresses, aloe, hydration, and ibuprofen.
A sunburn becomes a medical concern — and a reason to walk into AG Urgent Care — when:
- Blisters cover a large area (more than the palm of your hand) or appear deep, glossy, and dark red — that is a second-degree burn
- You have fever, chills, or feel sick after sun exposure (sun poisoning is a real diagnosis and may need IV fluids)
- You are dehydrated, dizzy, or vomiting — heat illness can layer on top of severe sunburn
- The face, hands, or genitals are severely burned — these areas need extra-careful care
- An infant or young child has any significant sunburn — kids’ skin burns faster and deeper
- The burn looks infected after a few days — pus, spreading redness, fever
What an AG Urgent Care Visit Looks Like for These Issues
- Walk in any day at any AG location: Bushwick, Flatbush Junction, Brownsville, Jamaica, or Canarsie. Check in online to save time.
- Bring the tick if you saved it. Photos of bites and rashes (with timestamps) are also useful.
- Same-visit care. We can remove embedded ticks, prescribe single-dose doxycycline for high-risk Lyme exposure, drain abscesses, treat infected bites, manage severe sunburn, and start IV fluids if needed.
- Lab testing for tick-borne diseases (Lyme, anaplasmosis, babesiosis) is available — your provider will help you decide the right timing for testing based on your bite date.
- Most insurance accepted, with self-pay options for uninsured patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly does Lyme disease transmit from a tick bite?
Generally, the tick needs to be attached for at least 36 hours before Lyme transmission becomes likely. That is why prompt tick checks and removal are so effective. Other infections, like the Powassan virus, can transmit faster — though they are far rarer.
Can I take doxycycline preventively after a tick bite?
Sometimes. The CDC recommends a single 200 mg oral dose of doxycycline within 72 hours of removing a high-risk Ixodes tick bite — meaning the bite was from a blacklegged tick, in an endemic area, with the tick attached for 36 or more hours. AG Urgent Care providers can evaluate the bite, ask the right questions, and prescribe prophylaxis when it’s indicated.
How do I know if a tick is a “deer tick”?
Blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) are very small — adults are sesame-seed-sized, nymphs are poppy-seed-sized — with a dark head and reddish-brown body. If you saved the tick, our providers can usually identify it. The NYS DOH also publishes a tick ID guide online.
What is the bullseye rash, and does everyone with Lyme get one?
The “bullseye” rash (erythema migrans) is a circular, expanding red rash that classically appears 3–30 days after a Lyme infection — sometimes at the bite site, sometimes elsewhere. It does not appear in everyone with Lyme (estimates range from 70 to 80 percent of cases), so don’t wait for it before getting evaluated if you have other symptoms.
Is sunscreen really enough to prevent skin damage?
It’s the foundation but not the whole answer. Use SPF 30+, broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen, reapply every two hours and after swimming, and combine it with a hat, sunglasses, and shade — especially between 10 AM and 4 PM. Children and people with fair skin should add UPF-rated clothing for extended outdoor time.
Coming Up in Part 2
In Part 2 — dropping in early June, just as the first NYC heat advisories typically hit — we will cover Heat Exhaustion & Heatstroke: When to Go to Urgent Care vs. When to Call 911. The clinical line between the two is one of the most important things every Brooklyn family should know before the temperature climbs.
Heading Outside? We’re Here If You Need Us.
Tick season is real this year, sunburn is faster than people think, and bug bites are usually fine — until they aren’t. If you find an embedded tick, develop a worrying rash, get a sunburn that blisters, or have any bite that looks like it’s getting infected, walk into any AG Urgent Care location in Brooklyn or Queens, or check in online. Same-day care, no appointment, most insurance accepted.
For severe allergic reactions to stings (trouble breathing, throat tightness, hives spreading), call 911 immediately.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Decisions about prophylactic antibiotics, tick-borne disease testing, and burn care should be made in consultation with a clinician who knows your medical history. In a medical emergency — including signs of anaphylaxis after a sting — call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.