May 14, 2026 - News
Tick season bites early in the Midwest
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Tick bites are sending a record rate of people to the ER for this time of year, according to new CDC data.
Why it matters: "Tick season is here and these tiny biters can make you seriously sick," says Alison Hinckley, epidemiologist with the CDC, in a statement.
By the numbers: Across Midwest states, April saw 137 ER visits for tick bites per 100,000 total ER visits — up from 70 in April 2025, according to preliminary data from the CDC's Tick Bite Tracker.
- The region's weekly ER visit rates for tick bites are the highest for this time of year since 2017, the CDC reports.
Between the lines: Lyme is the most common tick-borne illness in the U.S., but ticks also transmit anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and several other illnesses, according to the Cleveland Clinic.