Tick bites surging in Indiana, Midwest as summer starts
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Summer is nearly here — and so is tick season.
Why it matters: Tick bites can make people seriously ill.
Driving the news: Tick bites are sending a record rate of people to the ER for this time of year, according to new CDC data.
- Preliminary CDC data show that tick bites in the Midwest region nearly doubled year over year, rising from 70 per 100,000 ER visits in April 2025 to 137.
- The Indiana Department of Health is urging Hoosiers to take precautions, particularly after a new tick-borne virus was identified in the state last year.
What they're saying: "Hoosiers who work outdoors or spend time enjoying outdoor activities are at increased risk for tick bites and tick-borne diseases," state public health veterinarian Jen Brown said.
- Heartland virus — identified in ticks and at least one human last year — can cause symptoms such as fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, headache, nausea and diarrhea.
- Unlike many other tick-borne diseases, Heartland virus is not treatable with antibiotics, making prevention important.
By the numbers: An estimated 31 million Americans are bitten by a tick each year, and roughly 476,000 are treated for Lyme disease alone, per the CDC.
- April saw 104 ER visits for tick bites per 100,000 total ER visits — up from 68 in April 2025, according to preliminary data from the CDC's Tick Bite Tracker.
- In all regions except for the south-central region of the U.S. — where blacklegged ticks are less common — weekly rates of ER visits for tick bites are the highest for this time of year since 2017, the CDC reports.
💭 Arika's thought bubble: Ticks are seriously no joke this year.
- I pulled at least half a dozen ticks off my dog and several off myself during a camping trip in northwest Indiana several weeks ago.
Between the lines: Lyme is the most common tick-borne illness in the U.S., but ticks also spread other serious diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and alpha-gal syndrome.
Reality check: Most tick bites don't require emergency care.
To prevent tick bites, the CDC recommends:
- Wearing EPA-registered insect repellent and permethrin-treated clothing outdoors.
- Doing a tick check after being outside — ticks like leaf litter, tall grass, and wooded areas.
- Removing attached ticks ideally within 24 hours, and watching for a rash or fever in the days or weeks after a bite. See a doctor promptly if either appears.