Tick-borne illnesses reach record rates, with Lyme disease seeing a major surge across North America.

Tick bites have risen significantly in North America due to longer summers and shorter winters, leading to a 112 per 100,000 emergency visits rate in 2024, the highest since 2019. Ticks are spreading to more states, including the Midwest and South, and can transmit diseases like Lyme, which has seen a fivefold increase from the 1990s. To protect yourself, avoid wooded areas, use insect repellent, wear long clothing, and perform regular tick checks.