BETHLEHEM, Pa. — State officials have launched the 2025 Lyme Disease Art Contest, encouraging students from across the commonwealth to participate.
“We encourage all Pennsylvanians to be active, get outdoors and enjoy nature as part of a healthy lifestyle,” Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen said in a news release Thursday.
“At the same time, it is important for people to take basic precautions to protect themselves from getting bitten by ticks and potentially exposed to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
“Through the contest, we provide students information on how ticks transmit disease, steps to prevent tick bites, how to remove ticks if found on the body and how to seek timely medical treatment when needed to protect against Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses.”
This year’s annual tick art contest’s theme is “Protect. Check. Remove.”
The competition, open to first- through sixth-grade pupils across the commonwealth, aims to prevent Lyme disease through education and engagement.
It’s especially important for Pennsylvania, as the commonwealth has some of the highest annual case counts of the disease in the United States.
Learning opportunities like this one empower young Pennsylvanians to understand the world around them, and I encourage educators across the commonwealth to get their young learners involved.Interim Acting Secretary of Education Angela Fitterer
“This art contest provides students with a creative way to combine their health and science knowledge with art to help raise awareness as tick season approaches,” Interim Acting Education Secretary Angela Fitterer said.
“Learning opportunities like this one empower young Pennsylvanians to understand the world around them, and I encourage educators across the commonwealth to get their young learners involved.”
Students can create either a video or a poster.
The deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. March 14. Officials said finalists will be notified by mail and be invited to a May award ceremony at the state capitol.
Last year, 29 winners were recognized. None was from the Lehigh Valley.
‘A high incidence state’
Pennsylvania is a hot spot for Lyme disease, consistently returning some of the highest annual case counts in the country.
“Pennsylvania is designated by CDC as a high-incidence state for Lyme disease," according to the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
"Meaning there has been an average incidence of at least 10 confirmed cases of the disease per 100,000 people for three years. There are currently 16 high incidence states in the U.S.”
The disease, with its characteristic “bull’s eye” rash, can cause fever, headaches, irregular heartbeats and more.
While 24 species of ticks have been recorded in Pennsylvania, only one is responsible for almost all disease transmission — the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick.
In 2022, there were more than 8,400 Lyme cases identified in the commonwealth, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The state Health Department tracks Lyme cases by county. Last year, there were 59 in Lehigh County and 111 in Northampton County. That’s up from 29 and 88 the year prior, respectively.
“Protecting against ticks is essential to enjoying the many benefits of getting outdoors,” said Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
“I am grateful to our partners at the departments of health, education and environmental protection for supporting tick awareness and prevention through this creative initiative, which is critical in helping young people to be more responsible outdoor users.”
For more information on preventing Lyme disease, visit the state Department of Health’s website.
