Emergency departments across the U.S. are reporting a sharp rise in tick bite cases, with July marking the highest number of visits since 2017, according to recent data from the CDC, ABC News reported.
Young children and older adults are especially vulnerable, with the highest rate of ED visits being seen in those younger than 10 and older than 70 .
In the New York area, the risk has been severe in recent months. The Fordham Tick Index, which monitors tick activity in Southern New York and Connecticut and New Jersey, rated the tick bite risk as being “very high.”
May typically sees a rise each year in tick-bite emergencies, CDC data showed. The agency also warned that the arachnids can transmit diseases through their bites. Most individuals who visit the ED report fever and chills, headaches, fatigue and muscle aches. Some patients also develop a rash, which is a potential indicator of Lyme disease.
