Georgia tick bites hit August record ahead of fall peak
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This year's tick season has been a doozy in Georgia — and another peak is coming in the fall.
Why it matters: Tick bites can pose serious health risks, transmitting pathogens that cause illnesses including Lyme disease and triggering alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat.
By the numbers: Georgia broke its August record with 30 ER visits for tick bites per 100,000 total ER visits, according to the CDC's tracker.
- The state hit a high of 70 ER visits this past June, marking its third-highest total for the month since the CDC began monitoring the data in 2017, a major year for ticks.
Zoom out: Even before the month's end, this August had the highest rate of emergency department visits, the CDC said.
- Through Aug. 23, there were 34 August ER visits for tick bites per 100,000 total ER visits.
- That comes after a record-breaking April for tick bites.
State of play: Lyme disease risk is expanding beyond areas where the disease has historically been concentrated, such as the Northeast.
- A new CDC report found blacklegged ticks and several disease-causing pathogens in western North Carolina, adding evidence that Lyme disease is emerging in southern Appalachia.
What's next: Blacklegged ticks — also known as deer ticks — enter another peak activity period in October and November.
The bottom line: To stay safe, wear long sleeves and long pants in areas with dense tick populations, use insect repellent, and check yourself, children and pets for ticks after spending time outdoors, says Goudarz Molaei, who directs Connecticut's tick surveillance program.
- Around the yard, clear brush and tall grass where ticks can live.
Go deeper: How to remove a tick.