Blacklegged ticks carrying Lyme disease have spread into western North Carolina’s mountains, well south of the disease’s traditional range in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, a CDC report published Aug. 13 says.
As tick activity has increased in recent years, experts advise taking extra care before spending time outdoors.
Emergency room visits for tick bites reached their highest levels in April since 2017. Several regions of the United States are seeing increased tick activity due to warmer temperatures, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In recent years, Lyme disease has begun to migrate south.
An estimated 476,000 people receive treatment for Lyme disease each year, making it the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the U.S.
Tick Bites Are Driving a Rise in Emergency Department Visits
The Northeast states are seeing the largest increase in tick-related emergency room visits as of April, with rates far higher than in the rest of the United States. The Midwest is the second most affected region, followed by the South.
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that can be carried by infected ticks. Tick bites, especially those from blacklegged ticks, are the most common way these germs spread to humans. Due to the small size of the blacklegged tick and the tendency for its bite to go unnoticed, not everyone who experiences Lyme disease symptoms remembers being bitten by a tick, according to Harvard Health.
Shifting Cases of Lyme Disease in the U.S.
The main causes of tick population growth include climate change, warmer winters and expanding habitats, which allow ticks to survive in greater numbers and spread into new areas.
According to Harvard Health, about 90% of U.S. cases have been reported in 14 states: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Which Ticks Spread Lyme Disease?
Not all ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Depending on where you live, fewer than 1% of ticks in a region may carry the bacteria; in other areas, as many as half of ticks are infected, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The blacklegged tick and the Western blacklegged tick, also known as deer ticks, can spread Lyme disease, which can lead to a wide range of health problems. Most Lyme disease cases have been reported in the Upper Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.
How to Check for Ticks After Being Outdoors
After enjoying the outdoors, it’s best to perform a preventative tick check on your entire body. Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed. According to the U.S. Forest Service, follow these steps:
- Check your clothes: Remove your clothes and look for hitchhiking ticks on your shoes, backpacks and outer layers of clothing.
- Take a shower: As soon as you return from high-risk areas, shower or bathe. This removes unattached ticks and helps you find any that may have attached.
- Use a mirror: Examine each area of your body with a full-length or handheld mirror. Look for tiny black dots that could resemble new freckles.
- Check hidden spots: Ticks prefer warm, dark and moist areas, so focus on your hair, around your ears, underarms, groin, behind the knees, between your toes and your belly button.
For Lyme disease to be transmitted, a tick is usually connected to its host for 24 to 36 hours, according to the CDC. However, other tick-borne diseases can be transmitted much more quickly, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes. Removing a tick promptly can reduce the chance of becoming infected.
Reporting by Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY / USA TODAY. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
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