ER visits for tick bites are at their highest level in years: Here's where | FOX 35 Orlando

ER visits for tick bites are at their highest level in years: Here's where

A tick (Ixodida) can be seen on the skin of a human next to a pair of tweezers. (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Tick bites are landing people in the emergency room at higher rates than the U.S. has seen in years, and one region has been hit especially hard, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Summer is always a more visible time for tick bites because humans are outside more, but experts caution that "every season is tick season."

How ticks make people sick

Big picture view:

Ticks, like mosquitos, feed on blood. But unlike mosquitos, they are slow feeders – with hooked mouth parts that attach into the skin of deer, rabbits, dogs and people.

There are many different species of ticks found globally and only some spread germs that can make people sick. A main worry is blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease. Once found mainly in New England and pockets of the Midwest, the ticks are now present over a wider range.

RELATED: Ticks spread to new regions across America, bringing dangerous diseases

A tick bite, however, doesn’t always lead to illness. 

What they're saying:

"If you remove a tick within 24 hours of attachment, it’s fairly unlikely that you will get infected," Sam Telford, an infectious diseases expert at Tufts University, told The Associated Press. 

Where are tick bites most prevalent? 

By the numbers:

CDC data shows nationwide, there have been 268 emergency room visits for tick bites for every 100,000 ER visits so far this year. That's considerably higher than the 188 reported in 2024. 

Local perspective:

While tick populations vary a lot regionally, some Northeastern states including Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are seeing "above average" numbers of American dog ticks this year, Telford said. 

And New York state is seeing a higher number of reported deer tick bites this year than last year. 

How to check for ticks

Ticks are usually found low to the ground, in leaf litter or grassy areas.

What you can do:

Check your clothing for ticks and do a full-body check including under the arms and behind ears, knees and hair.

"If you’re out all day long, try to do a quick check for ticks every few hours," said Bobbi Pritt at the Mayo Clinic. "When you go back inside, take a shower. That will wash off any unattached ticks, and you’re also more likely to spot any other ticks."

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Use tweezers to remove the tick and grasp it as close to the skin as possible to pull from the head. If you don’t have them handy, you can also use your fingernails, the edge of a credit card or any semi-sharp object.

How to keep ticks away

Bug sprays containing ingredients such as DEET can be sprayed on exposed skin to ward off ticks and mosquitos, said Telford.

Wear long sleeves and pants, and you can also spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin, a chemical similar to a natural ingredient in chrysanthemums that makes ticks avoid the flowers.

Protect your pets from ticks

Don’t forget to pay attention to outdoor pets. Medications can prevent fleas and ticks from attaching to a dog’s skin. But it’s still a good idea to check the fur after being outside.

"Wherever pets can’t easily groom themselves, that’s where the ticks will be – on the ears, around the muzzle area, under the collar, between the toes," said Thangamani.

Dogs and cats roaming outdoors can also bring ticks into the house.

"If pets bring ticks in, a tick can live in the house for months until it finds its next blood meal," which could be another household member, he said.

What to do after a tick bite

After removing the tick, keep an eye on the skin around the bite. If a rash or flu-like symptoms appear within several days or weeks, see a doctor

The CDC does not recommend tick testing because results may not be reliable.

The Source: This report includes information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The Associated Press. 

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