Health officials debunk viral Midwest boxes of ticks claim
Updated
Updated · NBC Chicago · Apr 29
Health officials debunk viral Midwest boxes of ticks claim
9 articles · Updated · NBC Chicago · Apr 29
Illinois and Missouri officials said they knew of no such incidents, while Illinois experts said the story was scientifically implausible.
The rumour spread as tick season starts early, with CDC data showing US emergency-room visits for tick bites at their highest for this time of year since 2017.
Experts instead point to climate, deer and mice populations, and warn Illinois adult ticks show about 40% Lyme positivity, with Pfizer and Valneva seeking vaccine approval in 2027.
As climate change pushes ticks into new territories, is your state the next unexpected hotspot for dangerous infections?
Pfizer's Lyme vaccine is coming, but what about the deadlier tick-borne pathogens it can't protect you from?