The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting unusually high rates of emergency room visits related to tick bites across much of the country, with current activity reaching the highest levels seen for this time of year since 2017 in most U.S. regions.
Ahead of Lyme Disease Awareness Month, the CDC is encouraging individuals and healthcare providers to remain vigilant as tick season intensifies. Ticks can transmit several serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome.
Health officials emphasize that prevention remains the most effective protection. Recommended precautions include using EPA-registered insect repellents, wearing permethrin-treated clothing, performing routine tick checks after outdoor activities, and removing attached ticks as quickly as possible. According to the CDC, removing ticks within 24 hours may significantly reduce the risk of Lyme disease transmission.
The agency also advises individuals to seek medical attention if symptoms such as fever or rash develop in the days or weeks following a tick bite or outdoor exposure in wooded or grassy areas.
Resource: CDC Data Show Weekly ER Visits for Tick Bites Higher than Usual