Northeast High Risk for Tick Bites as ER Visits Reach Record Levels

CDC Data on Tick-Related ER Visits

• 📈 Emergency room visits for tick bites have reached their highest level nationwide since 2019, according to new CDC data.
• ⚠️ The Northeast region is identified as being at high risk for tick bites.

Factors Contributing to the Spike

• 🌡️ Experts attribute the increase to milder winters and wetter springs, which lead to longer tick breeding seasons.
• 🗺️ Ticks are also expanding into new geographic areas where they were not previously found.
• 📍 The Forom tick index indicates a nine out of 10 risk for tick bites in southern New York, Connecticut, and Northern New Jersey, with ticks present even in urban parks.

Tick-Borne Diseases and Prevention

• 🦠 Ticks are known carriers of diseases, most notably Lyme disease.
• 🎯 Approximately 25-30% of nymphal ticks are infected, which is considered a high infection rate.
• 👕 To prevent tick bites, experts recommend wearing light-colored clothing, keeping arms and legs covered, wearing closed-toe shoes, and using insect repellent.
• 🏠 Additional preventative measures include performing a tick check after outdoor activities and taking a shower.

Tick Removal Technique

• 🪖 If a tick is found attached, it should be removed using tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible.