Tick bite-related emergency room visits at near record level this summer, CDC reports

A Gulf Coast Tick. (Courtesy: Dr. Melissa Nolan.)

(WLOS) — Tick bite cases are currently on the rise, with this summer showing the highest number of emergency room visits for ticks that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen since 2019.

While the exact cause of the spike is unknown, tick bites typically ramp up during the summer for several reasons. Experts say ticks are much more active when temperatures heat up. Plus, when people spend more time outdoors during the summer, they have a higher chance of running into a tick.

Tick bites can cause a number of life-threatening illnesses, and it is important to check yourself for bites after being outside, especially in wooded areas.

“A lot of people who get tick-borne illnesses have no recollection of being bitten by a tick,” said Dr. Karel Speers, medical director at Mission My Care Now. “It can be quite small, and they can drop off and attach to you, none the wiser. So anytime if you have a flu-like illness that seems severe, you should think, ‘Do I possibly have a tick bite?'”

To prevent bites, experts advise wearing long pants and long sleeves when outside in long grass.

If you do get bitten by a tick, doctors say to remove it with tweezers, bag it and take it to your healthcare provider to determine what illness you may be susceptible to.

Experts say if you notice a tick on you, be sure to remove it immediately.