Ticks
Tick Testing
The Trumbull Health Department works in partnership with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) to provide testing of ticks found on humans for several tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Borrelia Miyamotoi, and Powassan Disease.
To submit a tick for testing, place the tick in a sealed plastic bag, complete the Tick Submission Form (PDF), and include a $5.00 payment. Do not put the tick on tape, ticks submitted on tape will not be tested. Test results will be emailed within two weeks from the date of submission.
If you are unable to visit the Trumbull Health Department during normal business hours, a secure locked drop box is available next to the front entrance for tick submissions. Residents may place their completed submission form, tick sample, and payment in the drop box at their convenience. The drop box is checked daily by Health Department staff.
Information on Ticks
For residents of Trumbull, tick awareness is especially important because Connecticut is one of the areas in the United States with a high prevalence of tick-borne diseases, particularly Lyme disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people in the Northeast take precautions year-round, especially from spring through early fall when ticks are most active.
The primary tick of concern in Connecticut is the blacklegged tick (deer tick), which can spread Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and other illnesses. Fairfield County has reported some of the highest infection rates in the state for Lyme-positive ticks.
The CDC advises Trumbull residents to take the following preventive measures when outdoors, even in their own yards:
- Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or similar ingredients.
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, and permethrin-treated clothing when hiking, gardening, or doing yard work.
- Stay on cleared trails and avoid tall grass and brush.
- Perform full-body tick checks after spending time outside.
- Shower within two hours of coming indoors.
- Check pets daily because animals can carry ticks into the home.
The CDC also emphasizes that prompt tick removal is important. In most cases, an infected tick generally must remain attached for more than 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease bacteria. Using fine-tipped tweezers to remove ticks quickly can significantly reduce infection risk.
Residents should watch for symptoms after a tick bite, including fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, or the classic "bull’s-eye" rash associated with Lyme disease. Untreated infections can affect the joints, heart, and nervous system.
The CDC notes that many tick exposures occur close to home rather than deep in the woods. Homeowners in Trumbull can reduce tick habitat by mowing lawns frequently, removing leaf litter, creating wood-chip barriers between lawns and wooded areas, and discouraging deer from entering yards.
For even more information about ticks and how to prevent tick bites, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/.