Full Breakdown
Surge in U.S. Emergency Room Visits for Tick Bites Marks Highest Levels Since 2017
4/26/2026, 1:40:53 AM
Nationwide Spike in ER Visits for Tick Bites
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Tick Bite Tracker shows weekly emergency-room visit rates for tick bites are higher than normal across U.S. regions, reaching the highest levels for this time of year since 2017, except the South Central United States. The CDC released the data in a statement, emphasizing unusual increase.
Midwest Leads the Rise
In the Midwest, the surge is especially pronounced. CDC data indicate visits rose from 3 per 100,000 population in January to 115 per 100,000 in April. Illinois Department of Public Health warned residents to check themselves, pets and children after outdoor exposure. Michigan now lists 65 counties as “known risk” for Lyme disease, including Huron, Manistee, Mecosta, and Bay counties, the latter added after confirmed exposures. Illinois reports blacklegged tick populations and Borrelia-positive samples in Morgan and Jersey counties.
Data Overview and Trends
- An estimated 31 million Americans are bitten by ticks each year.
- Approximately 476 000 patients receive treatment for Lyme disease annually.
- Tick-borne illnesses: Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome.
- The spike is the highest since 2017 for all regions except the South Central U.S., per the CDC’s Tick Bite Tracker.
Key Public Health Leaders and Agencies
The CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, represented by epidemiologist Dr. Alison Hinckley, is the primary source of the national warning. State health departments in Illinois, Michigan, and Arizona have also issued localized alerts. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported 18 ER visits for tick bites in 2026 to date.
Prevention Guidance and Official Recommendations
CDC officials advise wearing EPA-registered insect repellent and permethrin-treated clothing, performing thorough tick checks after outdoor activities, and removing attached ticks promptly—within 24 hours—to reduce the risk of Lyme disease. Individuals who develop a rash or fever after a bite are urged to seek medical care without delay.
Why Tick-Borne Diseases Remain a Public Health Concern
Tick-borne pathogens can cause serious illness, ranging from the chronic joint pain of Lyme disease to the potentially fatal Rocky Mountain spotted fever and the red-meat allergy associated with alpha-gal syndrome. Experts warn that tick exposure and the diseases they transmit are a growing concern in states such as Michigan and Illinois.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All cited sources present consistent data on the timing and magnitude of the spike; no contradictory figures were identified. Detailed county-level case counts for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and alpha-gal syndrome remain unavailable.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Tick season is here and these tiny biters can make you seriously sick,” — Alison Hinckley, PhD, epidemiologist, CDC Division of Vector-Borne Diseases
- “The good news is you have options to help prevent tick bites when you spend time outdoors: You can wear EPA-registered insect repellent and permethrin-treated clothing, do tick checks, and remove attached ticks as quickly as possible.” — Alison Hinckley, PhD, epidemiologist, CDC Division of Vector-Borne Diseases
- “These simple steps can go a long way in protecting you and your family from diseases spread by ticks.” — Alison Hinckley, PhD, epidemiologist, CDC Division of Vector-Borne Diseases
- “Tick season is here and these tiny biters can make you seriously sick. The good news is you have options to help prevent tick bites when you spend time outdoors: You can wear EPA-registered insect repellent and permethrin-treated clothing, do tick checks, and remove attached ticks as quickly as possible. These simple steps can go a long way in protecting you and your family from diseases spread by ticks. And if you develop a rash or fever in the days to weeks after a bite, or after being in an area with ticks, seek medical care promptly.” — Alison Hinckley, PhD, epidemiologist, CDC Division of Vector-Borne Diseases
What’s Next
The CDC will continue weekly monitoring through the Tick Bite Tracker throughout the peak season, and public health agencies plan heightened outreach during Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May.
