CDC report shows unusual spike in tick bites

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention observed abnormally high levels of tick bites in most U.S. regions, according to a Thursday statement. The South Central region of the United States appeared to be the only region reporting normal tick bite levels. All other regions reported the highest rates of emergency room visits for tick bites in nearly a decade, according to the CDC’s tick bite tracker.

What regions are most impacted? Tick bite tracker data on Friday reported more than 180 ER visits for tick bite treatment in the Northeast so far this year. In the same timespan, the tracker recorded 115 in the Midwest. The Southeast reported 44, the West reported 28, and the South Central Region reported 11, according to the tracker.

Officials estimate that about 31 million people receive tick bites in the United States every year, and about 476,000 patients are annually treated for Lyme disease. It’s tick season, and one of those bites can make you seriously sick, according to Alison Hinckley, the Lyme disease expert at the CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases. Hinckley emphasized the need to wear insect repellent and carry out tick checks after spending time outdoors. Immediately seek medical care if you develop a rash or fever within days or weeks of receiving a bite, she added.

Dig deeper: Read Harrison Watters’ report on a recent HHS women’s health conference on invisible illnesses and the prevalence of Lyme disease among women.