ER Visits For Tick Bites Highest Since 2017

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Tick Bite Tracker, weekly emergency room visits related to tick bites have reached their highest level for this time of year since 2017.

In April, about 71 out of every 100,000 ER visits were linked to tick bites — more than double the historical seasonal average of around 30 per 100,000 visits. The highest rates were reported among children under 10 and adults between the ages of 70 and 79.

Travis Bure, an associate professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at Creighton University, said the rise in ER visits may be driven more by increased public awareness and reporting rather than a major increase in tick populations. He said that greater awareness is ultimately a positive sign.