Doctor Warns About Overlooked Signs Of Lyme Disease As Tick Bites Surge Across US

Doctors are sounding the alarm as Lyme disease becomes a bigger concern with parts of the US reporting a huge increase in tick bites.

A recent study estimates that around 31 million people in the country — nearly one in 10 Americans experience a tick bite each year. And now that tick season is in full swing, health experts are urging everyone to take precautions against the rising threat.

Warm, sticky summer weather creates the ideal environment for ticks to thrive. These parasites, which rely on external temperatures, become more active in the heat. They move around more, reproduce faster, and latch onto hosts like birds, animals, and even people more easily than usual.

The rise in global temperatures is only making things worse. As the climate gets warmer, ticks are staying active beyond just the summer months. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they’ve already been more active this year than usual.

Data shows that in May, June, and the first week of July, the number of people seeking help for tick bites hit five-year highs.

The CDC has highlighted that the Northeast is getting hit the hardest. In that region alone, there have already been 125 emergency room visits for tick bites per 100,000 total ER visits in 2025 — the highest number recorded since 2017.

The tiny parasites feed on the blood of mammals and birds Getty Images

According to the Fordham Tick Index, the risk of getting a tick bite in the tri-state area — New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut was ranked at a nine out of 10 at the start of July. In June, it had even jumped to a full 10.

Biologists from the Louis Calder Center field station in Westchester said the situation is so risky that people might want to skip outdoor plans and maybe just go see a movie instead.

Lyme disease, the biggest threat associated with tick bites, is a serious infection. It can cause symptoms like facial paralysis (also known as Bell’s palsy), pressure around the brain, painful headaches, blurry vision, and even nerve damage. These scary neurological issues are why doctors are taking the disease so seriously.

Ticks can infect people with Lyme disease Getty Images

The root cause of Lyme disease is a type of bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi, according to Health. It spreads through bites from infected ticks.

Since there’s currently no vaccine available to prevent the disease, medical experts are focusing on raising awareness about the warning signs. They advise seeking help right away if you think you’ve been bitten.

One telltale sign is an oval-shaped rash that looks like a 'bull’s-eye' around the bite. However, many people don’t even realize they’ve been bitten. That’s because ticks release a kind of saliva that numbs the area, making the bite painless and easy to miss.

A common sign is a bull's-eye rash Getty Images

After getting bitten, some people begin to experience symptoms anywhere from three days to a month later. These can include things like a fever, head pain, muscle aches, and nausea.

If you find a tick on your skin, the CDC recommends removing it right away. The quicker you get it off, the lower the risk of developing an infection.

The good news is Lyme disease can usually be treated successfully with a short course of antibiotics. But it’s important to know that Lyme isn’t the only disease ticks can spread.

Ticks can also transmit other illnesses like anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and even Powassan virus. In the case of Powassan, it can infect someone in as little as 15 minutes after being bitten.

Some species of ticks bring other strange problems with them. The lone star tick, for example, has been known to cause people to develop red meat allergies. And ticks like the American dog tick or the brown dog tick can carry diseases so dangerous that they’ve led to people having limbs amputated.

To lower your risk, the Lyme Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests steering clear of tall grass, wearing clothes that cover your skin — like long sleeves and using a strong insect repellent when spending time outdoors.