CDC Issues Advisory on Early US Tick Surge

Tick season has begun earlier than expected across much of the United States, with emergency room visits for tick bites reaching the highest levels for this time of year since 2017, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The surge, observed in nearly every region except the southcentral United States, prompted the CDC to issue an advisory this week urging the public to take immediate precautions as warmer weather encourages outdoor activities.

The early increase in bites comes weeks before the typical May peak, when tick encounters usually rise sharply. CDC epidemiologist Alison Hinckley emphasized the urgency, stating, "Ticks are out and people are getting bitten. The data are telling us now is the time to take action." Surveillance data covers about 85 percent of U.S. emergency departments, though it does not account for unreported bites, and experts note that comprehensive tick population assessments will require months of sampling.

Researchers attribute the premature activity to weather patterns, including a brief warm spell after a cold winter that activated adult blacklegged ticks in areas like Southern New England. Scott Williams, a tick...