US Reports 22-Year West Nile Spike as Tick-Bite ER Visits Hit Highest Since 2017
Updated
Updated · Leader & Times · Aug 21
US Reports 22-Year West Nile Spike as Tick-Bite ER Visits Hit Highest Since 2017
1 articles · Updated · Leader & Times · Aug 21
Summary
CDC-linked reporting shows West Nile virus cases in the U.S. have surged to a 22-year high, while tick-bite emergency-room visits are running at their highest level for this point in the year since 2017.
31 million Americans are bitten by ticks each year, and about 476,000 are diagnosed and treated annually for Lyme disease as summer outdoor activity and insect exposure climb.
Mosquitoes carrying West Nile have been detected from Texas and California to Rhode Island, underscoring how widely the risk is spread this season.
Permethrin-treated clothing can sharply cut tick exposure, experts say, while removing standing water and avoiding dawn and dusk can help reduce mosquito bites.
Doctors and prevention specialists urge people and pet owners to check for bites and seek treatment quickly, noting many insect-borne illnesses can be treated effectively when caught early.