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Tick bites are on the rise. Here's how to protect yourself.

Elena Cox on

Published in Slideshow World

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Tick bites are on the rise. Here's how to protect yourself.

Longer summers and shorter winters in North America mean more warm days throughout the year. These conditions are also creating longer life cycles for native arachnids, including bloodsucking ticks.

During the height of tick season in 2024, emergency departments saw 112 tick bites per 100,000 visits—the highest level since May 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tick bites are also being reported in more states, including the Midwest and the South, as the small parasite's habitat expands.

There are various types of tick species that come in different colors and sizes, but they all have eight legs and are members of the spider family. They attach to the skin of warm-blooded animals—including dogs, cats, and humans—to consume their blood and can pass dangerous bacteria through their saliva, which can lead to disease.

Northwell Health partnered with Stacker to examine the reasons behind rising rates of tick bites and their expanding habitat using the CDC's Tick Bite Data Tracker and other sources.

Visit thestacker.com for similar lists and stories.


 

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