Tick bites are sending more people to the emergency room according to new report by CDC

1 hour ago

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Summer has finally arrived, bringing backyard gatherings, pool parties, and more. But with the warmer weather also comes one pest: ticks.

“So in the walk-in clinic, we see, especially in the summer, spring-summer months, we see a lot of ticks. We see a lot of patients coming in after removing a tick. We sometimes have patients who come in requesting help to remove the tick. But we definitely see on a regular basis, probably daily to weekly for sure tick bites in the walk-in clinic,” said Megan Hahn, Physician Assistant at Essentia Walk-in Clinic at West Acres.

In North Dakota, the state tracks three variations of ticks: dog ticks, lone star ticks, and deer ticks. Since mid-April, the state has reported 47 cases of dog ticks. But while the pest may be easy to remove, concerns over diseases have risen across the nation. The CDC reports the highest level of emergency room visits since 2017.

“In our region, the biggest thing is Lyme. But otherwise, there is also anaplasmosis that can really be an issue as well. But we really talk about Lyme and see Lyme the most. The key factors with concerns for Lyme is that it’s carried by deer ticks, not the typical wood ticks that you’re seeing,” said Hahn.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, with an estimated 476,000 patients treated for Lyme each year. Avoiding the risks of getting the disease, Hahn says to have it removed immediately.

“In general, removing ticks is fairly easy and can be done at home. Recommendation would be to use a tweezer where you can get very close to the skin surface to make sure that we are pinching way down at the head, versus trying to grab at the body and pulling off. Prevention of everything tick-related comes from trying to reduce the tick from actually becoming attached.”

Hahn recommends if you are going outside to make sure to wear light colored clothes, pants that you can tuck into your socks, and have a lint roller on hand.