Tick season is already breaking records — and the rules of the outdoors have quietly changed. In this episode, Dr. Wu digs into a May 2026 New York Times report by Maggie Astor revealing that four tick species are now spreading into regions where they've never been before, bringing Lyme disease, a mysterious red meat allergy, and a malaria-like parasite along for the ride. We break down the alarming Hudson Valley data showing that co-infections — one tick carrying multiple diseases simultaneously — have tripled in just eight years, why a standard course of antibiotics may leave one of those infections completely untreated, and exactly what steps you can take before, during, and after time outdoors to protect yourself and your family.