US records record ER visits for tick bites as illnesses rise

A surge in tickborne illnesses is elevating public health concerns across the United States, driven by exploding tick populations and the emergence of severe conditions like a red meat allergy and a dangerous brain-infecting virus. New federal data indicates emergency room visits for tick bites have reached their highest seasonal levels in nearly a decade.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows emergency room visits linked to tick bites have more than doubled historical averages in many areas. For instance, in the Midwest, visits spiked from 39 to 137 per 100,000 ER visits between March and April. Children under 10 and adults between 70 and 79 are among the most affected.

A primary concern is alpha-gal syndrome, a condition triggered by bites from the lone star tick that causes an allergic reaction to red meat like beef, pork, and lamb. Symptoms, which can be delayed by several hours, include hives, gastrointestinal distress, and breathing trouble. Health officials report the number of suspected cases identified between 2010 and 2022 exceeded 110,000, with researchers estimating the true national count could be as high as 450,000. While the risk of death...