Tracking Ticks Washington Trails Association Trip Reports Will Help Improve Dataset Used to Evaluate Tick Presence in Washington

A new collaboration between the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Washington Trails Association (WTA) aims to leverage hiker trip reports to track tick encounters in Washington. University of Washington Master of Public Health student Alex Eisen developed an automated tool to analyze this data, focusing on tick distribution and potential correlations with past wildfire perimeters. Although her research did not establish a direct connection between wildfires and tick habitats, it did reveal an alarming increase in tick sightings across the state, including in the Issaquah Alps and the Olympic Peninsula. This trend has significant public health implications, as many hikers may not be aware of how to protect themselves against tick bites or the diseases they can transmit. In response, the DOH is ramping up tick surveillance in areas like Island and Kittitas Counties, which have previously lacked tick encounter data.

Dr. Hanna Oltean, a Senior Epidemiologist at DOH, emphasizes the importance of understanding tick distribution for effective public health messaging. Hikers are encouraged to report their encounters with ticks to aid in this effort. WTA's Digital Content Manager, Anna Roth, expressed enthusiasm for the new agreement, highlighting the vital role of trip reports in keeping the hiking community informed.