Tick season is off to an aggressive start this year, with emergency room visits for tick bites running above normal levels across most of the United States, federal health officials say.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that ER visits tied to tick bites are the highest for this time of year since 2017, a trend that comes as the agency prepares for Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May. The CDC is urging the public to take precautions before heading outdoors.
The Illinois Department of Public Health echoes those warnings, noting that ticks are most active from April through September and that residents should be especially cautious in wooded or grassy areas. Officials recommend using EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing permethrin-treated clothing, and checking for ticks after coming inside.
If a tick is found attached to the skin, health officials say removal should happen immediately, and that an emergency room visit is not necessary as a first step. Removing a tick within 24 hours significantly reduces the risk of Lyme disease transmission, according to the CDC.
Anyone who has been bitten should monitor for a rash or fever in the days and weeks that follow, and seek medical attention if symptoms develop. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States, with cases reported in all 50 states but concentrated heavily in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest.
