The number of tick-borne illnesses diagnosed in the United States doubled between 2004 and 2016, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Summer is prime tick season, and people spending time outdoors should be vigilant, says University of Illinois entomology professor Brian F. Allan. An expert in the spread of insect- and tick-borne diseases, Allan discussed ticks in Illinois and how to prevent bites in an interview with News Bureau biomedical sciences editor Liz Ahlberg Touchstone.