Lyme disease cases rise in Pennsylvania, local officials urge precaution
PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR AT FOUR STARTS NOW. GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR AT 4:00. I’M ANDREW STOCKEY AND I’M KELLY SASSO. HERE’S A LOOK AT WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON, STARTING WITH YOUR TOP FOUR STORIES AT 4:00 TODAY. THE POP UP RAIN HAS MOVED OUT, BUT THIS PLEASANT SUNSHINE OF RIGHT NOW WILL BE REPLACED TOMORROW WITH RAIN. WEDNESDAY IS AN IMPACT DAY. BRIAN WILL SHOW US WHO HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF SEEING RAIN AND POSSIBLY STORMS COMING UP IN JUST A MOMENT. THE POLLS ARE OPEN. THIS IS PRIMARY DAY HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND THERE ARE SOME CONTESTED RACES TODAY. PRIMARY DAY IS ONLY OPEN TO REGISTERED DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, AND THOSE POLLS WILL CLOSE AT 8:00. AND THIS IS VIDEO YOU WILL SEE ONLY HERE ON FOUR. POLICE SAY THE MAN YOU SEE HERE BROKE INTO A WOMAN’S HOME TO SEXUALLY ASSAULT HER. OFFICERS ARRESTED 18 YEAR OLD JAYDEN MORGAN BY USING THIS VIDEO. HE IS ACCUSED OF TARGETING THE HOME IN PITTSBURGH’S ELLIOTT NEIGHBORHOOD. SOMETHING IS MISSING ON THE NORTH SHORE THIS AFTERNOON. THE NFL DRAFT COUNTDOWN CLOCK HAS BEEN REMOVED. IT’S BEEN THERE SINCE THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR. VISIT PITTSBURGH HAS BEEN TIGHT LIPPED OVER THE FUTURE OF THE CLOCK IN YOUR TOP FOUR STORIES AT 4:00 ON THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. TIME NOW FOR MORE OF PITTSBURGH’S ACTION. WEATHER METEOROLOGIST BRIAN HUTTON JUNIOR HERE WITH US. SO IT LOOKS LIKE TOMORROW IS THE DAY WE’RE REALLY FOCUSED ON WHEN IT COMES TO THE RAIN. YEAH. TOMORROW WE SAW THAN WHAT WE’VE SEEN TODAY. AND THEN FRIDAY SOGGIER THAN WHAT WE WILL SEE TOMORROW. SO THURSDAY IS A GREAT DAY THIS WEEK. AT THIS POINT, THAT’S THE SILVER LINING FOR THIS WEEK. SO IT HAS BEEN WARM TODAY. THOSE TEMPERATURES HAVE WARMED UP AFTER WE SAW THOSE RAIN SHOWERS FOR US THIS MORNING. AND WE’RE STILL WATCHING FOR A SHOWER AND PERHAPS THE STORM NORTH OF THE CITY TONIGHT. THEN WEDNESDAY IS AN IMPACT DAY AS WE WILL SEE, RAIN SHOWERS STILL LOOKS LIKE THE BULK OF THE RAIN IS HERE. AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE MIDDLE TO BACK PART OF THE DAY. SO RIGHT AROUND LUNCHTIME, EXPECT THE BULK OF OUR RAIN SHOWERS TO ROLL THROUGH, AND THEN WE WILL TRY AND DRY OUT A BIT LATER IN THE DAY BEFORE SHOWERS LINGER SOUTH OF THE CITY AS WE HEAD WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY SOGGY AS WE START AND GO THROUGH YOUR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. AND THINGS ARE GENERALLY QUIET ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. ONE LONE LITTLE THUNDERSTORM POPPED UP RIGHT OVER THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. A COUPLE LIGHTNING STRIKES WITH THIS. THIS IS MOVING OFF TOWARDS THE EAST. SO THOSE OF YOU IN THE EASTERN SUBURBS COULD SEE THIS RAIN SHOWER HERE IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES OR SO. 84 AT THE AIRPORT THOUGH, 84 CRANBERRY AND BUTLER. WE’VE REBOUNDED NICELY FROM THOSE RAIN SHOWERS A LITTLE EARLIER EXCEPT EAST WHERE THE RAIN LEFT LAST. AGAIN. WE’RE COOLER TOMORROW 75 FOR 67. THURSDAY IS DRY, THEN RAIN FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR AN IMPACT DAY AND SATURDAY. SOME SHOWERS POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY AND THEN AGAIN ON MONDAY. BUT WE WILL BE IN THE 70S AND THAT HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. YEAH, YEAH. JUST, YOU KNOW, ENJOY INSIDE I GUESS. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO HELP US AS THE DAYS GO ON, KEEP TRACK OF ALL OF THIS. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANKS SO MUCH. WE’LL SEE YOU IN A BIT. AND FOR ALL OF YOU, JUST A REMINDER. OF COURSE YOU CAN STAY AHEAD OF THE WEATHER WITH OUR FREE WTAE APP. YOU CAN TRACK THE RAIN WITH A LIVE INTERACTIVE RADAR AND ALSO TURN ON THE ALERTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE FIRST TO KNOW IF ANY WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED IN YOUR AREA. WE TURN NOW COMMITMENT 2026 COVERAGE. IT IS PRIMARY DAY IN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE POLLS ARE NOW OPEN. IF YOU’VE NOT VOTED YET, YOU HAVE UNTIL 8:00 TONIGHT TO DO SO. AS ALWAYS, IF YOU’RE IN LINE BY EIGHT, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE. WELL, TODAY THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR WILL BE SOLIDIFIED. DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT JOSH SHAPIRO CAST HIS BALLOT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, AND REPUBLICAN STACEY GARY THIS MORNING IN SEWICKLEY. WE ALSO CAUGHT UP WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AUSTIN DAVIS AND HIS WIFE, BLAIR, WHEN THEY VOTED THIS MORNING, THEY CAST THEIR BALLOTS AT THE WEST MIFFLIN HIGH SCHOOL. HE TOLD US HE IS EXCITED TO RUN FOR REELECTION ALONGSIDE GOVERNOR SHAPIRO. WE’VE DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON DELIVERING REAL RESULTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES ALL ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA TO MAKE SURE FOLKS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST TO SURVIVE, BUT TO THRIVE. AND I’M EXCITED TO BE BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE’VE DONE, BUT ALSO OUR VISION TO MOVE PENNSYLVANIA FORWARD. SOME OTHER NOTABLE RACES ON THE BALLOT TODAY. ALL 17 U.S. REPRESENTATIVE SEATS, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE 203 STATE REPRESENTATIVE SEATS, ALSO INCLUDED HALF OF THE STATE SENATE SEATS, AS WELL. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER KALEA GUNDERSON JOINS US LIVE RIGHT NOW FROM MOUNT LEBANON. AND KAYLEE, MANY HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OUT OVER THE PRIMARIES, BEING CLOSE PRIMARIES. RIGHT. ANDREW KELLY, ON THIS PRIMARY ELECTION DAY, VOTERS ARE DECIDING, AND IN SOME CASES, SIMPLY CONFIRMING WHAT WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. BUT WE’RE SEEING A PUSH THIS YEAR FOR OPEN PRIMARIES. TAKE A LOOK. JUST A FEW PROTESTERS SHOWING UP HERE IN MOUNT LEBANON. WE’RE TOLD MORE ARE COMING TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD ABOUT WANTING TO SEE AN OPEN PRIMARY, WHICH WOULD ALLOW REGISTERED INDEPENDENT VOTERS TO HAVE A VOICE IN THE PRIMARY AS WELL. DIRECTOR OF PRE-LAW FOR DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY, KRISTEN COOPEY, STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE PRIMARY. EVEN IF YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN. WE’LL HAVE A PRETTY COMPETITIVE GOVERNOR’S RACE IN THE FALL. BUT THE CANDIDATES ARE PRETTY MUCH ALREADY PICKED FOR THAT. WE’LL SEE WHO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE IS GOING TO BE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THERE’S CONTROL OF THE CHAMBERS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND CONGRESS AT PLAY FOR THIS UPCOMING ELECTION CYCLE. SO IT IS IMPORTANT. IT MIGHT NOT FEEL IMPORTANT TODAY, BUT IT REALLY DOES MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE BIG OVERALL PICTURE FOR STATE AND FEDERAL POLITICS. THE POLLS CLOSE AT 8:00 TONIGHT, SO IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE IT OUT TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION JUST YET TODAY, YOU DO STILL HAVE TIME. KELLY. ANDREW. WELL, KELLY, YOU DID MENTION THE INTEREST SOME ARE EXPRESSING IN AN OPEN PRIMARY HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA. SO WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY HOPING FOR? WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE’S SEVERAL EXAMPLES ACROSS THE COUNTRY OF HOW THIS COULD BE DONE. BUT WHAT WE’RE HEARING LOCALLY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THE ABILITY FOR INDEPENDENT VOTERS TO SHOW UP AT THE POLLS AND BE ABLE TO CHOOSE IF THEY WANT TO VOTE ON THE DEMOCRATIC BALLOT OR VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN BALLOT. I’LL HAVE MUCH MORE PERSPECTIVE ON THAT AND THE PUSH BEHIND IT COMING UP TONIGHT AT 5:00, COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY TONIGHT IN MOUNT LEBANON, KALEA GUNDERSON PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. ALL RIGHT, KELLY, THANK YOU. NOW MORE COVERAGE. WE WANT TO TAKE YOU TO LEHIGH COUNTY. THAT’S WHERE STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF A, QUOTE, UNKNOWN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE BEING THROWN FROM A VEHICLE NEAR A POLLING PLACE. TROOPERS SAY THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION NEAR THE VEHICLE, BUT NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE WAS NO THREAT TO THE PUBLIC. AND THE POLLING PLACE DID NOT CLOSE. BACK HERE AT PITTSBURGH, NEIGHBORHOOD IS MOURNING THE DEATH OF A YOUNG BOY HIT AND KILLED BY A VEHICLE. THIS IS A STORY YOU FIRST SAW AS BREAKING NEWS WITH US LAST NIGHT IN PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM IS JOINING US LIVE NOW WITH THE LATEST ON THIS STORY. SHELDON. YES. WELL, IT’S DEFINITELY A SAD DAY HERE IN THE UPPER HILL DISTRICT FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF THAT FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD WHO WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE. NOW, HERE ARE BALLOONS ARRANGED ON THE SIDEWALK WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. 700 BLOCK OF ANAHEIM STREET AROUND 730 LAST NIGHT. THE INFORMATION FROM POLICE INDICATES THAT THE FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD, YASIN IRVIN WEATHERS, RAN INTO THE STREET AND WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE. POLICE SAY THE DRIVER REMAINED ON THE SCENE AND WAS COOPERATIVE WITH POLICE. SO FAR, NO SIGNS THAT THE DRIVER WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. POLICE SAY THAT THE CHILD WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION, WHERE HE WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DECEASED. HERE’S MORE ON THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MOBILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE. WHEN INCIDENTS LIKE THIS OCCUR. THEY LOOK INTO ALL THE INCIDENTS, ALL THE CRASHES, INCIDENTS LIKE THIS, JUST TO SEE WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT THAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE AS WELL ON, ON CERTAIN SITES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING AT MAJOR ROADWAYS WHERE WE SEE A LOT OF INCIDENTS OCCUR. ALSO TONIGHT, THE CITY’S COLLISION INVESTIGATION UNIT IS ALSO LOOKING INTO THIS ACCIDENT. COVERING PITTSBURGH IN THE UPPER HILL DISTRICT SHELDON INGRAM PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. SHANNON. THANK YOU. THIS AFTERNOON, THE HEIDELBERG POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY ARE MOURNING THE DEATH OF THEIR POLICE CHIEF. CHIEF DENNIS DIXON WAS FOUND DEAD THIS MORNING IN HIS PATROL VEHICLE. HE HAD BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT SINCE 2008 AND SERVED AS CHIEF SINCE 2018. ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING. NOW WE HEAD TO WALL BOROUGH IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, WHERE A WATER MAIN BREAK HAS CLOSED A MAJOR ROAD THERE. THIS IS NEAR THE CORNER OF WALL AVENUE AND COLE STREET, WILKINSBURG, PENN JOINT WATER COMPANY SAYS THIS HAS CAUSED OUTAGES. WE’RE WORKING TO LEARN HOW MANY HOMES AND BUSINESSES WERE IMPACTED AND WHEN THOSE REPAIRS WILL BE MADE. CREWS BATTLING A HOUSE FIRE THIS MORNING IN FAYETTE COUNTY. SKY 4 PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS CHOPPER GIVING US A LOOK AT THAT SCENE ALONG HILLTOP ROAD IN GERMAN TOWNSHIP. NOW YOU CAN SEE A GOOD BIT OF DAMAGE TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF THAT UNIT. ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN. NO WORD YET ON ANY INJURIES OR WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THAT FIRE. AND OFFICIALS IN SAN DIEGO RELEASED NEW DETAILS INTO THE SHOOTING AT THE ISLAMIC CENTER. THERE, THREE PEOPLE THEY SAY WERE KILLED. BOTH SUSPECTS ARE DEAD AS WELL. INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO LEARN WHO THE SUSPECTS ARE AND EXACTLY WHAT THEIR MOTIVE WAS. ABC’S ALEX STONE IS THERE WITH AN UPDATE. A SEARCH WARRANT IS BEING EXECUTED AT THE HOMES OF THE TWO TEENAGERS WHO POLICE SAY OPENED FIRE AT THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF SAN DIEGO ON MONDAY. AS POLICE TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE 17 AND 18 YEAR OLDS CARRIED OUT THE ATTACK. SOURCES IDENTIFY THE TWO AS KANE, CLARK AND CALEB VASQUEZ. WE HAVE CONFIRMED THREE VICTIMS OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, AS WELL AS TWO REPORTEDLY TWO SHOOTERS. POLICE SAY THE GUNFIRE KILLED THREE ADULTS NOW IDENTIFIED AS A MANAGER OF THE MOSQUE STORE FOR 40 YEARS, AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO MOVED PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE GUNFIRE. THEY SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. INSIDE THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF SAN DIEGO, AND SECURITY GUARD AMIN ABDULLAH. HE BEGAN TO ENGAGE THEM WITH GUNFIRE. BOTH SUSPECTS RETURNED FIRE. HIS ACTIONS, WITHOUT A DOUBT DELAYED, DISTRACTED. AND ULTIMATELY DETERRED THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS FROM GAINING ACCESS TO THE GREATER. AREAS OF THE MOSQUE INSIDE THE ISLAMIC CENTER, CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS KINDERGARTNERS HID IN CLOSETS AS THE GUNFIRE WAS HEARD. LATER, THE CHILDREN SEEN HERE BROUGHT OUT HAND IN HAND BY POLICE. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE TEENS THEN DROVE DOWN THE STREET AND FIRED AT A LANDSCAPER WHO WAS HIT BUT WILL SURVIVE. POLICE SAY THE TWO SUSPECTS DIED OF SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUNDS IN THEIR CAR. SOURCES SAY WERE ANTI-ISLAMIC WRITINGS. THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY OF SAN DIEGO IS IN SHOCK. MY COMMUNITY IS MOURNING. MY COMMUNITY IS KEEPING OUR THREE HEROES IN THEIR PRAYERS. THIS IS STILL AN ACTIVE CRIME SCENE HERE TODAY. POLICE HAVE THE FRONT ENTRANCE CLOSED OFF THE INSIDE OF THE ISLAMIC CENTER, FROZEN IN TIME AS I
Lyme disease cases rise in Pennsylvania, local officials urge precaution
Updated: 4:36 PM EDT May 19, 2026
Health officials in Pennsylvania are warning residents to take precautions against ticks as Lyme disease cases rise during the summer months, with 387 cases reported in Allegheny County so far this year. VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 “Typically, we see incidents of Lyme disease rise in a number of cases as the summer goes on,” said Dr. Michelle Paulson, an infectious disease doctor for Allegheny Health Network. Dr. Paulson advised avoiding areas with tall grass and heavily wooded regions to reduce the risk of tick exposure. “Avoiding areas where there was a lot of tall grass, avoiding heavily wooded areas, especially off the beaten path, so to speak,” she said. Additional preventive measures include wearing long pants and shirts, showering immediately after returning indoors, and performing routine tick checks. If a tick is found on the skin, timing is critical. “If you think the tick may have been attached for 24 to 36 hours, it does take a while for the bacteria the tick harbors to be transmitted to you,” Paulson said. She emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention promptly. “You need to see your provider within 72 hours of removing that tick,” she said. Early symptoms of Lyme disease can be subtle and nonspecific, resembling flu-like symptoms. “The symptoms initially can be very nonspecific, so they could be almost like a flu-like symptom,” Paulson said. She noted that four out of five patients develop a rash at the site of the tick bite. If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to serious complications. “Lyme disease has the tendency to infect the nervous system, so it can infect your nerves, and that includes the nerves going into your face,” Paulson said. She added that long-term effects can include arthritis. Dr. Paulson explained that treatment for Lyme disease involves a course of antibiotics, with the duration depending on the severity of the case.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
Pennsylvania —
Health officials in Pennsylvania are warning residents to take precautions against ticks as Lyme disease cases rise during the summer months, with 387 cases reported in Allegheny County so far this year.
VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4
“Typically, we see incidents of Lyme disease rise in a number of cases as the summer goes on,” said Dr. Michelle Paulson, an infectious disease doctor for Allegheny Health Network.
Dr. Paulson advised avoiding areas with tall grass and heavily wooded regions to reduce the risk of tick exposure.
“Avoiding areas where there was a lot of tall grass, avoiding heavily wooded areas, especially off the beaten path, so to speak,” she said.
Additional preventive measures include wearing long pants and shirts, showering immediately after returning indoors, and performing routine tick checks. If a tick is found on the skin, timing is critical.
“If you think the tick may have been attached for 24 to 36 hours, it does take a while for the bacteria the tick harbors to be transmitted to you,” Paulson said.
She emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention promptly.
“You need to see your provider within 72 hours of removing that tick,” she said.
Early symptoms of Lyme disease can be subtle and nonspecific, resembling flu-like symptoms.
“The symptoms initially can be very nonspecific, so they could be almost like a flu-like symptom,” Paulson said.
She noted that four out of five patients develop a rash at the site of the tick bite. If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to serious complications.
“Lyme disease has the tendency to infect the nervous system, so it can infect your nerves, and that includes the nerves going into your face,” Paulson said.
She added that long-term effects can include arthritis.
Dr. Paulson explained that treatment for Lyme disease involves a course of antibiotics, with the duration depending on the severity of the case.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.