Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States. The bacteria are transmitted exclusively through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. You cannot acquire Lyme disease from concrete, asphalt, or any other inanimate surface. The specific biological requirements for the bacteria and the tick vector prevent this type of transmission.
The Only Way Lyme Disease Spreads
The transmission of Lyme disease is entirely dependent on the blacklegged tick, a small arachnid vector that carries the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. This bacterium is a zoonotic pathogen, meaning it cycles between animals and the tick, and requires this living system to survive and spread. Infection occurs when an infected tick attaches to a host and begins to feed, injecting the bacteria into the bloodstream.
The bacteria reside in the tick’s midgut and must migrate to the salivary glands before transmission can occur. This migration is usually triggered by the tick’s blood meal, which is why a prolonged feeding period is necessary for infection to occur. Transmission generally requires the tick to be attached for at least 24 to 48 hours. Prompt tick removal is important, as transmission can sometimes occur sooner than the typical window.
Why Concrete and Inanimate Surfaces Pose No Risk
Ticks are highly sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly heat and low moisture, which makes concrete an unsuitable habitat. Blacklegged ticks require shaded, high-humidity areas with ground cover, such as leaf litter, wooded edges, and tall grass, to survive. These ticks are rarely found on hot, dry surfaces like paved patios, driveways, or open lawns.
The Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium is biologically incapable of surviving for any meaningful length of time outside of a host or the tick vector. The pathogen is adapted for life within the tick’s midgut and the host’s body, not for endurance on a dry, non-biological surface. Consequently, there is no mechanism for the bacteria to survive, remain infectious, and be transferred from a surface like concrete to a person.
Protecting Yourself in High-Risk Environments
Since the risk comes from ticks in vegetation, protection focuses on avoiding and deterring contact in wooded or grassy areas. Wearing light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks before they attach. Tucking pants into socks and shirts into pants creates a physical barrier that keeps ticks on the outside of your clothing.
Other preventative measures include:
- Applying an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET to exposed skin.
- Treating clothing and gear with permethrin, a product that kills ticks on contact.
- Conducting a full-body tick check and taking a shower after spending time outdoors, as this may wash off unattached ticks.
- Tumble drying outdoor clothes on high heat for at least ten minutes to kill any ticks present on the fabric.