As tick activity increases, experts advise taking extra care before spending time outdoors.
Emergency room visits for tick bites have reached their highest levels for this time of year since 2017. Several regions of the United States are seeing increased tick activity due to warmer temperatures, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An estimated 476,000 people receive treatment for Lyme disease each year, making it the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the U.S.
CDC issues warning as tick bites rise
The Northeast states are seeing the largest increase in tick-related emergency room visits as of April, with rates far higher than in the rest of the United States. The Midwest is the second most affected region.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that can be carried by infected ticks. Tick bites, especially those from blacklegged ticks, are the most common way these germs spread to humans. Due to the small size of the blacklegged tick and the tendency for its bite to go unnoticed, not everyone who experiences Lyme disease symptoms remembers being bitten by a tick, according to Harvard Health.
Shifting cases of Lyme disease in the US
The main causes of tick population growth include climate change, warmer winters, and expanding habitats, which allow ticks to survive in greater numbers and spread into 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 spread by only two tick species
Not all ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Depending on where you live, fewer than 1% of ticks in a region may carry the bacteria; in other areas, as many as half of ticks are infected, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The blacklegged tick and the Western blacklegged tick (also known as deer ticks) can spread Lyme disease, which can lead to a wide range of health problems. Most Lyme disease cases have been reported in the Upper Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic states.
Tick check: Steps to take after being outdoors
After enjoying the great outdoors, it’s best to perform a preventative tick check on your entire body. Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed. According to the U.S. Forest Service, here are some steps to follow when checking for them:
– Check your clothes: Remove your clothes and look for hitchhiking ticks on your shoes, backpacks and outer layers of clothing.
– Take a shower: As soon as you get back from high-risk areas, take a shower or bathe. This removes unattached ticks and helps you find any that may have attached.
– Mirror check: Examine each area of your body with a full-length or handheld mirror. Keep an eye out for tiny black dots that could resemble new freckles.
– Check the hidden spots: Ticks prefer warm, dark, and moist areas on your body, so be sure to focus on your hair, around your ears, underarms, groin, behind the knees, between your toes, and even your belly button
For Lyme disease to be transmitted, a tick is usually connected to its host for 24 to 36 hours, according to the CDC. However, other tick-borne diseases can be transmitted much more quickly, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes. By removing the tick promptly, you can reduce the chance of becoming infected.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tick bites surge, sending many to ER. Maps show where.
Reporting by Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
