It’s hiking season in Illinois, and experts are recommending you take extra care before venturing outside.
Emergency room visits for tick bites have reached their highest levels for this time of year since 2017. Several regions of the United States are seeing increased tick activity due to warmer temperatures, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An estimated 476,000 people receive treatment for Lyme disease each year, making it the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the U.S.
Here’s how cases look in Illinois.
Tick-related emergency department visits on the rise
How common are tick-related visits in the Midwest?
The Northeast states are seeing the largest increase in tick-related emergency room visits as of April, with rates far higher than in the rest of the United States. The Midwest is the second most affected region.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that can be carried by infected ticks. Tick bites, especially those from blacklegged ticks, are the most common way these germs spread to humans. Due to the small size of the blacklegged tick and the tendency for its bite to go unnoticed, not everyone who experiences Lyme disease symptoms remembers being bitten by a tick, according to Harvard Health.
Where are ticks the most prevalent?
The main causes of tick population growth include climate change, warmer winters and expanding habitats, which allow ticks to survive in greater numbers and spread into new areas.
According to Harvard Health, about 90% of U.S. cases have been reported in 14 states: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Which Illinois counties have the most Lyme disease cases?
The highest number of Lyme disease cases is typically reported in Cook County, according to data published by Johns Hopkins.
In 2023, 107 total cases were reported (or 2.1 per 100,000 people), while the neighboring Lake and DuPage counties saw 51 and 39 cases, respectively.
For the most part, the southern half of the state rarely sees Lyme disease cases, with Peoria serving as the main outlier outside of the Chicago metro area. In 2023, Peoria saw 14 total cases (or 7.89 cases per 100,000 people).
Which ticks cause Lyme disease? Do they live in Illinois?
Not all ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Depending on where you live, fewer than 1% of ticks in a region may carry the bacteria; in other areas, as many as half of ticks are infected, according to Johns Hopkins.
The blacklegged tick and the Western blacklegged tick (also known as deer ticks) can spread Lyme disease, which can lead to a wide range of health problems. While blacklegged ticks are known to reside in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and North Central U.S., Western blacklegged ticks are primarily limited to the Pacific coastal U.S.
Do I have a tick bite? How to check
After enjoying the great outdoors, it’s best to perform a preventative tick check on your entire body. Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed. According to the U.S. Forest Service, here are some steps to follow when checking for them:
For Lyme disease to be transmitted, a tick is usually connected to its host for 24 to 36 hours, according to the CDC. However, other tick-borne diseases can be transmitted much more quickly, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes. By removing the tick promptly, you can reduce the chance of becoming infected.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Tick bites are on the rise. How common is Lyme disease in Illinois?
Reporting by Hannah Hudnall and Janet Loehrke, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
