Due to increased tick activity, experts advise taking extreme caution before spending time outdoors.
The number of emergency department visits due to tick bites is at its highest level for this time of year since 2017. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rising temperatures are increasing tick activity in some parts of the United States, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest.
Lyme disease is treated for an estimated 476,000 people each year, making it the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the United States.
Emergency department visits due to tick bites increase
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CDC issues warning as tick bites increase
As of April, northeastern states have seen the largest increase in tick-related emergency department visits, at a much higher rate than in the rest of the country. The Midwest is the second hardest hit region.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacterium called. Borrelia burgdorferi It can be transmitted by infected ticks. Tick bites, especially bites by black-footed ticks, are the most common way these bacteria are transmitted to humans. According to Harvard Health, not everyone who experiences symptoms of Lyme disease remembers being bitten by a tick because black-legged ticks are small and their bites tend to go unnoticed.
Trends in Lyme disease patients in the United States
The main causes of increased tick populations include climate change, warmer winters, and habitat expansion, which allows ticks to survive in greater numbers and spread to new areas.
According to Harvard Health, about 90% of U.S. cases have been reported in 14 states: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Lyme disease is transmitted by just two types of ticks
Not all ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Depending on where you live, less than 1% of ticks in your area carry the bacteria. In other regions, half of all ticks are infected, according to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Black and white spider mites (also known as deer ticks) can spread Lyme disease and can cause a variety of health problems. Most Lyme disease cases are reported in the upper Midwest, Northeast, and mid-Atlantic states.
Check item: What to do after going outdoors
After enjoying the outdoors, it’s best to perform a full-body tick prevention check. Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed. According to the U.S. Forest Service, here are the steps to follow when identifying them:
- Check out the outfit: Remove your clothes and look for hitchhiker ticks on your shoes, backpack, and outer clothing.
- Take a shower: Shower or bathe immediately after returning from high-risk areas. This will remove any unattached ticks and help find any that may be attached.
- Mirror check: Each part of the body is examined using a full-length or handheld mirror. Note the small black dots that resemble new freckles.
- Check out hidden spots. Ticks prefer warm, dark, moist areas of the body, so be sure to watch your hair, around your ears, armpits, groin, soles of your knees, between your toes, and even your belly button.
According to the CDC, for Lyme disease to be transmitted, a tick must be attached to its host, usually for 24 to 36 hours. However, other tick-borne diseases can be transmitted more quickly, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes. Removing ticks immediately can reduce the chance of infection.
