Emergency rooms are seeing an uptick in visits related to bites from a common parasite, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Recent data has revealed that tick bites are being reported at a higher-than-normal rate in some parts of the United States, according to data from the CDC’s official Tick Bite Tracker.
“In all regions except the South Central United States, weekly rates of ER visits for tick bites are the highest for this time of year since 2017,” the agency said in a statement.
Ironically, May is also recognized as Lyme Disease Awareness Month, which recognizes those affected by the tick-borne inflammatory disease, characterized by a rash followed by flu-like symptoms and later by a range of issues that may include neurological and cardiac disorders.
Presently, Lyme Disease remains the most common illness associated with ticks in the United States. According to CDC data, close to 476,000 patients are treated for the disease annually.
With the recent rise in tick bites, the CDC is calling on the public to take protective measures to prevent such infections. Other diseases that ticks are known to transmit through harmful bacteria include Rocky Mountain spotted fever and alpha-gal syndrome.
“Tick season is here and these tiny biters can make you seriously sick,” said Alison Hinckley, PhD, an epidemiologist with the CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases.
Hinckley, who also specializes in Lyme disease, says prevention is one of the best ways to combat the illnesses ticks often carry.
“The good news is you have options to help prevent tick bites when you spend time outdoors,” Hinckley says, which include the use of EPA-registered insect repellents that are commonly available.
Hinckley also recommends wearing permethrin-treated clothing while visiting areas where ticks are common, such as tall grasses and large amounts of foliage, which are likely to come into contact with hikers, runners, gardeners, or anyone in situations where they may come into contact with vegetation.
Above all else, Hinckley says checking for ticks is the gold standard for prevention.
“Do tick checks, and remove attached ticks as quickly as possible,” she says, adding that spotting and removing ticks before they can become embedded for a length of time is the only sure way to prevent transmission of harmful bacteria that give rise to tickborne illnesses.
“These simple steps can go a long way in protecting you and your family from diseases spread by ticks,” she said, adding that if a rash or fever manifests in the days or even weeks following a bite from a tick, it is important to immediately seek medical attention.
According to the CDC, if a tick has attached itself to you, removing it within 24 hours of the bite can help prevent Lyme disease. CDC officials also advise removing ticks immediately upon discovery, before seeking medical attention, since the time a tick remains embedded can be a factor in whether any harmful pathogens are transmitted.
“If individuals do find an attached tick, they should remove it as soon as possible, and not wait to get to the ER,” the CDC said in a statement.
Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. A longtime reporter on science, defense, and technology with a focus on space and astronomy, he can be reached at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow him on X @MicahHanks, and at micahhanks.com.