Axios Northwest Arkansas
May 20, 2026
1 big thing: Your Northwest Arkansas summer event guide
2. Tick bite ER visits at highest rate in nearly a decade
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.
- 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.
By the numbers: 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.
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, babesiosis and alpha-gal syndrome.
Zoom in: Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the most common tick-borne disease in Arkansas, according to the state health department. Symptoms, which appear two to 14 days after a bite, include high fever, headache, muscle pain and non-itchy, pink rash that usually starts on the wrists, forearms and ankles.
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.
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