Tick Bite ER Visits Soar as Warmer Weather Extends Risk Season

53 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Apr 16

Emergency room visits for tick bites have surged to their highest levels in nearly a decade, according to CDC data.
The Northeast and Midwest are experiencing the most cases, with experts linking the rise to warmer winters and earlier springs.
Increased tick activity raises concerns about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, prompting calls for heightened prevention and awareness.

Is the increase in reported Lyme and other diseases mostly due to more ticks, or are changes in diagnosis and awareness just as important?

Are pets now at greater risk from emerging tick-borne diseases than ever before, and what’s the latest on prevention for animals?

How are climate change and urbanization combining to create new hotspots for tick-borne illnesses in places previously considered safe?

Why haven’t large-scale tick control projects consistently reduced human tick-borne disease rates, and what new approaches could work?

What are the earliest warning signs of severe or unusual tick-borne disease complications, such as ocular Lyme or alpha-gal syndrome?

Could blood transfusions become a significant risk factor for tick-borne diseases like babesiosis as tick ranges expand?