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US Experiences Early Tick Season with High Emergency Room Visits for Bites
An early tick season is underway across the United States, with emergency room visits for tick bites at the highest levels for this time of year since 2017, according to CDC data. Experts noted increased risks for tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease. Public health officials recommended preventive measures including insect repellents and prompt tick removal.
Apr 25, 6:22 PM·2m read1 source
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An early tick season is occurring across the United States, with elevated numbers of tick bites reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracking system indicates that weekly rates of emergency room visits for tick bites are the highest for this time of year since 2017 in all regions except the south-central United States.
Hospital emergency departments provide data to this system, though it does not include cases where individuals did not seek hospital care. Dr. Alina Filozov, an infectious disease doctor at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Connecticut, stated that higher exposures could lead to more cases of tick-related infections.
The CDC issued an advisory this week urging vigilance against ticks. Alison Hinckley, a CDC Lyme disease expert, said tick bites typically increase in May, but current data indicates action is needed now.
Influencing Tick Populations Ticks are eight-legged bloodsucking parasites that feed on animals and sometimes humans. Their populations vary by year and depend on factors such as warm, humid weather and availability of hosts like deer and mice. The CDC estimates 476,000 people are treated for Lyme disease annually, the most common tick-borne illness, along with others like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy.
Infections are typically treated with antibiotics. This year in the Northeast, most observed ticks have been large adults, with juvenile nymphs expected to become more common soon. Nymphs are harder to detect and may remain attached longer, increasing infection risk.
