Tick activity across the United States has reached its highest levels in nearly 10 years, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency reported that 105 of every 100,000 emergency department visits recorded in April were related to tick bites, surpassing rates seen since 2017 when 101 per 100,000 visits were attributed to such incidents.
The surge follows warnings from health officials earlier this year that the country could face a particularly severe tick season. March data also showed elevated activity, with 34 tick-related visits per 100,000 compared to 20 per 100,000 in March 2017. Tick activity typically peaks in May and remains high through June before declining, though a smaller spike occurs in the fall months.
What the Left Is Saying
Public health advocates on the left are pointing to rising tick-borne illness rates as evidence of the need for increased federal investment in vector control programs and public health infrastructure. Dr. Nicole Baumgarth, professor of immunology and infectious disease at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said earlier this month that tick infections and tickborne illnesses continue to increase annually.
"We see an increasing number of tick infections, tickborne illnesses every year...and it's unlikely this trend is going to change," Baumgarth stated. Progressive health policy advocates have called for expanded CDC surveillance programs, increased funding for research into Lyme disease and other tick-borne conditions, and greater support for state-level vector control initiatives.
Democratic lawmakers in affected states have emphasized the importance of ensuring rural and suburban communities have access to preventive care and educational resources about tick exposure. Public health organizations aligned with this perspective argue that federal investment in early detection and treatment could reduce long-term healthcare costs associated with chronic Lyme disease.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives and some public health policy experts have emphasized personal responsibility and community-level solutions over expanded federal programs. They note that tick exposure prevention, including proper outdoor attire and prompt tick checks, remains the most effective strategy for individuals and families.
Some Republican lawmakers from affected regions have called for streamlining regulatory pathways for new Lyme disease treatments rather than increasing CDC budgets. Others have argued that state agriculture departments and local extension services are better positioned than federal agencies to address regional variations in tick populations.
Policy analysts on the right often emphasize that increased public awareness campaigns, rather than new government programs, represent the most cost-effective approach to reducing tick-borne illness rates. They point to existing CDC guidance on tick removal and prevention as sufficient resources for public education efforts.
What the Numbers Show
The data reveals significant regional variation in tick activity levels. The Northeast reported 188 emergency room visits per 100,000 in April, compared to an average of 139 per 100,000 for that region during typical April months. The Midwest recorded 137 per 100,000, well above its average April rate of 56 per 100,000 and approaching the one-month record of 153 per 100,000 set in May 2024.
The South Central region saw 24 tick-related visits per 100,000 in April against an average of 13. The Southeast recorded 50 per 100,000 versus its typical 35. The West reported 27 per 100,000 compared to its average of 21. Nationally, the U.S. average April rate stands at 67 per 100,000.
Ten Midwestern states—Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio—accounted for 137 tick-related emergency department visits per 100,000 in April. This represents the highest regional rate outside of a peak month since tracking began. The Northeast region recorded its second-highest April incident rate on record.
The Bottom Line
The CDC data suggests that tick-borne disease prevention will remain a significant public health priority through the remainder of spring and into summer months. Health officials continue to recommend prompt tick removal, monitoring for symptoms such as rashes, fever, or bull's-eye patterns, and seeking medical attention for severe reactions including difficulty breathing, paralysis, or heart palpitations.
Healthcare systems in high-activity regions may see continued pressure on emergency department capacity related to tick exposure cases. Public health campaigns typically intensify during peak months, with officials emphasizing that attached ticks should be removed within 24 hours to reduce disease transmission risk. The CDC is expected to continue updating tick activity data as the season progresses.