Are Ticks on Every Continent?

Due to a changing climate, forest management issues, and other factors… tick habitats are expanding, and tick populations are booming. Unfortunately, more ticks mean more instances of tickborne disease.

In the past 20 years, cases of some tickborne illnesses have nearly doubled. It seems like it’s impossible to avoid these parasitic arachnids – even in urban areas. Is there anywhere in the world that’s safe from ticks?

Do Ticks Live on All Continents?

There are approximately 850 species of ticks around the world, with one of the widest ranges of any disease vector on the planet. Ticks can be found on every continent – even in places with harsh climates like Antarctica and sub-Saharan Africa. Due to their wide distribution and ability to spread pathogens, ticks are a worldwide health threat.

Does Every Country Have Ticks?

Data isn’t reported for every country but it’s safe to assume that anywhere you might travel you need to be “tick-aware”. If you plan to visit another country, check travel health advisories before departure and have a plan to protect yourself from tick threats if necessary.

Some questions we are asked by those planning to travel to popular business and tourism destinations are:

• Does Canada have ticks?

  Canada has a serious emerging tick problem. Over the past 50 years, blacklegged ticks (a vector for Lyme disease and other potentially serious illnesses) have spread from coast to coast in Canada, having moved north and west from areas in Ontario and the northern U.S.

• Are there ticks in Mexico?

  Yes, Mexico has disease-carrying ticks. These are found mainly in the northern and central regions of the country – including popular tourist areas in the states of Baja California (a state in Mexico, not a part of the U.S.), Yucatan, and Quintana Roo. Especially concerning is a recent outbreak of rickettsiosis, an often-fatal disease spread by brown dog ticks.

• Does Europe have ticks?

  European countries all face tick threats. A Lyme disease variant is increasingly common in Northern and Eastern Europe, and anaplasmosis has spread throughout most of the region.

• Does Japan have ticks?

  Japan has multiple varieties of ticks, spreading a broad range of diseases – including Lyme disease and the emerging threat of Japanese spotted fever (JSF). Even urban areas like Tokyo are seeing rising numbers of JSF cases.

• Are there ticks in Africa?

  African countries are home to a broad array of tick species. Visitors should know the signs of African tick bite fever… an increasingly common rickettsial virus spread by amblyomma ticks.

What Are the Biggest Ticks in the World?

Dog ticks (a type of hard-backed tick) are generally considered to be the largest tick species. These parasites expand to accommodate a large quantity of blood from their host, growing to several times their original size after a blood meal.

The record holder for the largest tick ever found is a hard tick measuring nearly an inch and a half long. Found on a cow in Central America, “Big Tick” is related to the American dog ticks commonly found on Long Island. Because of the lethality of some of the diseases they carry, dog ticks are considered to be the deadliest type of tick – as well as the biggest.

Call the Experts at East End Tick and Mosquito Control®

Be tick-aware when you travel the world. Back at home, East End Tick and Mosquito Control® has been keeping Long Island residents and businesses safe year-round from ticks and mosquitos for more than two decades. Contact us online or call now for a free estimate. In East Hampton, call (631) 324-9700; in Southampton, call (631) 287-9700, or in Southold, call (631) 765-9700. We look forward to hearing from you.