New York State Department of Health Announces Landmarks to Be Illuminated in Green for Lyme Disease Awareness Month

Fifteen Landmarks Will Be Illuminated on Saturday, May 9

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 8, 2026) – The New York State Department of Health today announced that 15 landmarks across New York State will be illuminated green on Saturday, May 9, in honor of Lyme Disease Awareness Month.

"Lyme Disease Awareness Month reminds us to use best practices for avoiding tick bites when enjoying New York's great outdoors," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Prevention and detection are the best ways to avoid tick-borne diseases like Lyme."

Landmarks to be lit green in tribute include:

  • WTC
  • Kosciuszko Bridge
  • The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
  • State Education Building
  • Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
  • Empire State Plaza
  • State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
  • Niagara Falls
  • The "Franklin D. Roosevelt" Mid-Hudson Bridge
  • Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct
  • Albany International Airport Gateway
  • MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
  • Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
  • Moynihan Train Hall
  • Roosevelt Island Lighthouse

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted by infected blacklegged (deer) ticks, including both nymphs and adults, which are most active when temperatures are above freezing. Lyme disease can affect people of any age and is spread when an infected tick bites a person and remains attached for 36 hours or more.

The most common symptom of Lyme disease is an expanding rash resembling a bull's eye or solid patch. Flu-like symptoms such as fever or chills and muscle aches, headache, or fatigue may also occur within 30 days of infection. If these symptoms develop, it's important to seek treatment from a health care provider immediately.

Tick bites can also transmit other diseases like anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Since 2015, the Department has reported an average of 600 babesiosis infections and an average of 1,300 anaplasmosis infections each year, as well as cases of more rare diseases such as ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Powassan virus disease. All of these diseases can vary in severity, but without treatment, they can cause serious illness and even death. Prompt tick removal is important, as transmission of these diseases can occur more quickly than Lyme disease. Powassan virus is able to be transmitted within 15 minutes of a tick bite.

New Yorkers should take measures to protect themselves, their children and their pets against all ticks and tick-borne diseases that are present in New York State. Preventing tick bites also reduces risk of developing alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially life-threatening allergy to red meat (such as beef, pork, lamb, and venison) and products containing ingredients from mammals (such as dairy, gelatin, and lanolin), that can develop from exposure to tick saliva. In particular, bites from the lone star tick have been linked to the development of alpha-gal syndrome in some people. Lone star ticks are common and abundant in some parts of New York State, including on Long Island. People who live or travel to areas where lone star ticks are found should take action to avoid tick bites.

While hiking, working, or spending time in wooded or overgrown grassy areas, follow these simple steps to help prevent tick bites:

  • Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed-toed shoes.
  • Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
  • Check for ticks often while outdoors and brush them away before they attach.
  • Perform a full body check multiple times during the day, as well as at the end of the day, to ensure that no ticks are attached.
  • Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors.
  • Shower soon after coming indoors.
  • Remember to check pets thoroughly for ticks after spending time outdoors and talk to your veterinarian about ways to reduce ticks on your pet.
  • Consider using EPA-registered repellents labelled as effective against ticks containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535, and follow label instructions. If you are using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

If you find an attached tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it right away. Avoid risky removal strategies such as detergent or burning, as these could increase your risk of infection. Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet or submerging it in rubbing alcohol. See the Department of Health's website for a video on proper tick removal technique. Monitor the site of the bite for the next 30 days for the appearance of a rash. If you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms, contact your health care provider immediately.

A map showing your risk of encountering an infected blacklegged tick by NY geographic region can be found at: Tick Score by Region.

For more information about Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, visit health.ny.gov/ticks.