By Katarina A. Lewczyk | Date published: July 30, 2025
Sandeep Jubbal Speaks with Telegram and Gazette About the Active Tick Season
As tick populations rise and peak earlier in the season, health experts are warning about the increased risks of tick bites and offering advice on how to protect oneself.
According to Sandeep Jubbal, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, ticks are more active and are biting earlier this season due to this year’s warm winter, mild spring, and current humidity. “It all depends on the weather,” said Dr. Jubbal.
With UMass Memorial Health reporting 177 cases of patients diagnosed with tick bites in the health system’s emergency rooms so far, Dr. Jubbal expects this year’s numbers to exceed those in the past. “UMass Memorial Health’s emergency rooms have dealt mostly with patients exposed to deer ticks this season,” explained Dr. Jubbal. “One was a severe case of babesiosis that required a blood transfusion.”
To protect yourself from tick bites, Dr. Jubbal suggests spraying clothes with insect repellent with an EPA-registered active ingredient and wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when spending time outdoors. He also recommends taking a shower after being outside to wash off any unattached ticks and checking your body to find any ticks that have attached. “If you think you have a bite, contact your primary care doctor immediately,” said Dr. Jubbal.