Emergency Department Visits for Tick Bites Surge to Decade High Across US
Emergency department visits for tick bites are escalating dramatically across multiple regions of the United States, indicating a worsening national tick problem. New data reveals that ED tick-bite visits have reached their highest nationwide level in nearly a decade, with 71 visits per 100,000 people recorded. This figure more than doubles the seasonal average of approximately 30 per 100,000 for this time of year.
Regional Disparities Highlight Northeast as Epicenter
Updated statistics from April 12 show the Northeast currently has the highest rate per population, with 163 tick-related emergency department visits per 100,000 people. This marks a sharp increase from just 52 visits in March and already surpasses recent full-year highs in the region, which ranged from 74 to 89 per 100,000 between 2021 and 2025.
When examining hospital visit rates, the Northeast also leads the nation with 25 emergency visits for tick bites per 100,000 hospital trips. The Midwest follows with 19 ED visits per 100,000 hospital trips, while the Southeast records 14 visits per 100,000 trips. The West ranks third with 13 visits per 100,000 trips, and the South Central region reports five visits per 100,000 trips.
Ticks: Tiny Arachnids with Major Health Consequences
Ticks are diminutive yet perilous blood-sucking arachnids responsible for 90 percent of all vector-borne diseases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The roster of diseases they carry is extensive and varies by region.
- Lyme disease predominates in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever is found nationwide.
- Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are prevalent in the East and South.
- Powassan virus circulates in the Northeast and Great Lakes areas.
- Babesiosis occurs in the Northeast and upper Midwest.
Most tick-borne illnesses initially present with fever, chills, headache, and fatigue. However, if left untreated, they can have devastating outcomes. Lyme disease can trigger chronic arthritis and nerve pain; Rocky Mountain spotted fever may cause brain damage and limb loss; anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis can lead to kidney or respiratory failure; the incurable Powassan virus leaves half of survivors with permanent neurological damage; and babesiosis destroys red blood cells, potentially resulting in organ failure or death.
Historical Context and Expert Insights
A similar spike in emergency department visits due to tick bites occurred last year, though not as early in the season. That surge happened in July, when tick-related hospital visits reached 127 per 100,000 ED visits, the highest July level since 2017.
Dr. John J. Halperin, a neuroscientist and chair of the New Jersey Stroke Care Advisory Panel who specializes in Lyme disease, told ABC News, "We're running well above historic average and even well above last year. The ticks have started a little earlier. There seems to be a lot of them. A lot of people are going to the emergency room."
He added, "It’s not entirely clear how much of this is increased recognition, and as people become more aware of this, more are going to the emergency room. But there seems to be a clear increase in the number of ticks out there."
Tick Biology, Transmission, and Removal
Ticks inhabit grassy, brushy, and wooded environments, with their season typically commencing in May. They spread disease by biting into the skin and feeding on blood. As they feed, they inject saliva laden with bacteria, viruses, or parasites directly into the wound. The duration of attachment is critical; most ticks require 24 to 48 hours to transmit enough bacteria to cause illness, but dangerous viruses like Powassan can infect someone in as little as 15 minutes.
Approximately 31 million Americans experience a tick bite annually, with nearly 476,000 developing Lyme disease. This illness is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted through the bite of an infected black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick. Early symptoms often include a characteristic "bull’s-eye" rash, fever, chills, headache, and fatigue. Untreated, Lyme disease can disseminate to the joints, heart, and nervous system.
To remove a tick safely, use tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull gently upward. Avoid squeezing the tick tightly during removal, as this may elevate the risk of infection.
Demographic Risks and Disease Specifics
Zip code largely determines the risk level for different tick-borne diseases. The highest rates of tick-related emergency room visits are observed in two demographic groups: children aged 0 to 9 and adults aged 70 to 79.
Lyme disease remains the most significant threat in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest, regions where tick populations are densest. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the nation's most widespread tick-borne danger, is found from coastal California to rural Texas, with about 2,000 cases each year.
Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis, two bacterial infections causing fever, chills, and plummeting blood cell counts, are most common in the East and South. The US sees between 5,000 and 6,000 cases of anaplasmosis daily, while ehrlichiosis infects around 2,000 Americans annually.
The Powassan virus, a rare but dangerous brain-swelling illness, has infected roughly 20 to 50 people annually in recent years and lurks in ticks across the Northeast and Great Lakes region. Babesiosis, a malaria-like parasite that destroys red blood cells, primarily affects the Northeast and upper Midwest, infecting approximately 2,000 Americans each year. The Northeast and upper Midwest face a triple threat of Lyme, Powassan, and babesiosis concurrently.
Climate Change and Prevention Strategies
The global climate is warming and becoming more humid annually, expanding the geographic areas where ticks can thrive. To prevent tick bites, individuals should use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants, especially in grassy or wooded locations. Conducting a full-body tick check after coming indoors is also strongly recommended.
