ER Visits for Tick Bites Reach Highest Level in Nearly a Decade

Experts warn this tick season could be worse than usual

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:37pm

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A highly detailed, translucent X-ray photograph of a tick's internal anatomy, glowing against a dark background and revealing its intricate biological structure.As tick populations surge, the increased risk of contracting tick-borne diseases like Lyme highlights the need for greater public awareness and prevention efforts.Cleveland Today

Weekly visits to emergency rooms for tick bites have reached the highest level since at least 2017, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Northeast is currently reporting the most ER visits for tick bites, followed by the Midwest, Southeast, West and South Central regions. Experts say the increase could be due to a combination of factors, including climate change, earlier springs, and more recognition of tick-borne diseases.

Why it matters

Tick-borne diseases have been on the rise in recent years, and scientists suspect climate change is partly to blame. With more ticks emerging earlier in the season, there is an increased risk of people contracting illnesses like Lyme disease. This trend could have significant public health implications, especially in regions with high tick populations.

The details

During the most recent week, 71 per 100,000 ER visits were due to tick bites, compared to the average of about 30 per 100,000 ER visits for this time of year, more than double from what is typical. Experts say the ticks have started a little earlier this year, and there seems to be a lot of them. They also note that increased recognition of certain tick-borne diseases, like Lyme, has contributed to the rise in reported cases.

  • The CDC data shows the Northeast is currently reporting the most ER visits for tick bites.
  • May is typically when ER visits for tick bites peak each year.

The players

Dr. John J. Halperin

Chair of the New Jersey Stroke Care Advisory Panel and member of the department of neuroscience at Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center in New Jersey, who partly focuses on Lyme disease.

Dr. Christopher Bazzoli

An emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic.

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What they’re saying

“We're running well above historic average and even well above last year. The ticks have started a little earlier. There seems to be a lot of them. A lot of people are going to the emergency room.”

— Dr. John J. Halperin, Chair of the New Jersey Stroke Care Advisory Panel and member of the department of neuroscience at Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center in New Jersey

“Ticks tend to become active when the temp reaches 45 degrees [Fahrenheit] or more. If [temperatures] stay higher into the fall, we could also see a longer tick season.”

— Dr. Christopher Bazzoli, Emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic

What’s next

It remains unclear if the upward trend in ER visits for tick bites will continue through the rest of the season. Experts say it is possible the monthly April average will level out and match prior years, but they warn that the risk of tick-borne diseases could still be higher than usual.

The takeaway

This spike in ER visits for tick bites highlights the growing public health concern around tick-borne illnesses, which appear to be exacerbated by climate change and other environmental factors. Increased awareness and preventative measures, such as using insect repellent and performing tick checks, will be crucial for mitigating the risks this season.