Warm weather might make you want to get outdoors and enjoy walks in the woods, picnics, gardening, and more. But tiny ticks also emerge when temperatures rise. And they can take a big bite out of warm-weather fun.
Bites from infected ticks are responsible for about a half-million new illnesses each year in the U.S. And those numbers are rising. Lyme disease is by far the most common. It accounts for more than 80% of tickborne illnesses nationwide. Other tick-related diseases include babesiosis, tularemia, and anaplasmosis.
Symptoms of these infections can range from mild rashes and discomfort to long-lasting health problems. Some tick bites have been linked to a severe allergy to red meat.
There is good news, though—you can take steps to keep ticks from making you sick. And NIH-supported scientists are looking for better ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent tick-related illnesses.
Source: NIH News in Health, June 2023 [https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2023/06/uptick-ticks]
