Emergency room visits for tick bites have more than doubled their normal April rate, hitting the highest level in nearly a decade — and the peak month hasn’t even arrived yet.
Story Snapshot
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 71 tick-related ER visits per 100,000 in April 2026, more than double the seasonal average of 30 per 100,000.
- Every U.S. region except the South Central reported its highest tick-bite ER visit rate for this time of year since 2017.
- The Northeast is the hardest-hit region, with 163 tick-related ER visits per 100,000 in April alone.
- About 476,000 Americans receive treatment for Lyme disease every year, and tick season typically peaks in May.
The Numbers Behind the Surge
The CDC’s Tick Bite Data Tracker pulls from emergency department records across the country in near real time. In April 2026, it recorded 71 tick-related ER visits for every 100,000 total ER visits. The historical average for April sits around 30 per 100,000. That gap — more than double the norm — is what triggered the CDC’s public alert. The data covers nearly all U.S. regions, and the trend is hard to ignore no matter where you live.
The Northeast is carrying the heaviest load. That region logged 163 tick-related ER visits per 100,000 in April, up sharply from 52 per 100,000 just one month earlier in March. Connecticut’s Agricultural Experiment Station counted 1,131 human-biting ticks in April 2026, compared to 821 during the same month in 2025. Those numbers point to a real and measurable spike in tick activity — not just a media story built on fear.
Who Gets Bitten Most Often
The data reveals two groups that show up in ERs far more than others: children under 10 and adults between 70 and 79. Young kids spend time playing in grass and brush without much body awareness. Older adults often garden or hike without checking themselves carefully afterward. Both groups are less likely to spot a small tick before it has been attached long enough to transmit disease. That 24-hour window matters — removing a tick within a day can prevent Lyme disease from taking hold.
Why Ticks Are Thriving Right Now
Milder winters are the clearest driver. Ticks need prolonged hard freezes to die off in large numbers. When winters run short and warm, more ticks survive, emerge earlier in spring, and stay active longer into fall. That extended window means more chances for a bite. Experts at the Bloomberg School of Public Health have pointed to rising temperatures as a key factor behind the growing tick population across the United States. The season is no longer just a summer problem.
🔴 CDC reports highest tick-bite ER visits since 2017 as season worsens
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention logged the highest rate of emergency room visits from tick bites since 2017 across most of the country this summer.
Rebecca Osborn, epidemiologist at the… pic.twitter.com/QJiaeAj2ZL— NewsTongue (@NewsTongueX) July 2, 2026
Goudarz Molaei of Connecticut’s Agricultural Experiment Station offered a note of caution. He suggested the early April spike may partly reflect a delayed emergence after a cold winter, meaning ticks that normally spread out over weeks all showed up at once. That is a reasonable interpretation, and it is worth holding in mind. But a delayed emergence does not make the bites less real — it just compresses the danger into a shorter window, which may actually increase risk for people caught off guard.
The Lyme Disease Stakes
The reason tick bites send so many people to the ER is not the bite itself — it is what the bite might carry. Lyme disease, caused by bacteria spread through blacklegged tick bites, is notoriously hard to diagnose and treat once it advances. The CDC estimates roughly 476,000 Americans receive treatment for Lyme disease each year. That number already reflects a massive public health burden. A tick season running significantly above normal in the spring could push those treatment numbers even higher by late summer.
A Fair Warning About the Data
The CDC has labeled 2026 figures as preliminary, meaning the numbers could shift as more complete data comes in. It is also unclear whether the upward trend will hold through May, which is historically the peak month for tick-bite ER visits. Those are honest caveats worth knowing. But preliminary does not mean wrong. The direction of the data is consistent, the regional patterns match what experts on the ground are seeing, and the underlying tick counts from state labs back it up.
What You Should Do Right Now
Check yourself and your kids after any time outdoors — hiking, gardening, or even sitting in a grassy yard. Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot. Tuck pants into socks in wooded areas. If you find a tick, remove it with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight out without twisting. Save the tick in a sealed bag so a doctor can identify it if symptoms develop. If you live in a Lyme-heavy region and a tick was attached for more than 24 hours, see a doctor promptly — a single dose of doxycycline can prevent Lyme disease from progressing.
Sources:
cbsnews.com, tickmitt.com, abcnews.com, unmc.edu
