CDC data shows more people going to ER for tick bites

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Tick bites are landing more people in the emergency room, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new data shows nationwide, we’re seeing the biggest spike since 2017. While the majority of the ER visits are happening in the northeast, there’s also a spike in the southeast compared to previous years.

Nationwide, the data shows that this year, for every 100,000 people who go to the ER, 268 of them are for tick bites. While that may seem small, it’s a big jump from previous years. That rate is up about 43% compared to all of 2024.

WBRC reached out to several health departments to see how the trend is faring here in Alabama specifically.

While we haven’t heard back from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) says that in 2023, just 51 people in Alabama contracted Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness.

Dr. Wesley Willeford says symptoms can include fever and rash and in some cases, Lyme disease can lead to arthritis or even heart complications.

So what does this mean for you? We typically see more ticks during the summer, so a little extra caution can go a long way.

Dr. Willeford recommends avoiding tall grass when possible and using bug spray with DEET or permethrin to repel ticks.

“If there are ticks attached, you want to be very careful about how you remove them,” he explained. “Certainly what you want to do if you have some tweezers, you want to grab the tick from the head. You don’t want to grab on the body. You want to grab on the head and that is how you need to remove a tick.”

Just because you find a tick attached, that doesn’t mean you need to seek medical attention immediately. Dr. Willeford says if the area starts to look concerning or problems develop after you remove the tick, that’s when you should find a doctor.

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