Thursday April 23’s Science Café at Fuel Art and Espresso was a timely reminder – tick related hospital visits are on the rise nationwide.

As Angela Horvath stated, any time the temperatures get upwards of 40 degrees, tick nymphs start getting active. If it’s warm enough for many of us to consider being outdoors, it’s warm enough for ticks to consider turning over that leaf or mulch they frequent in winter months.

Adding to that we’ve had limited snow cover for a good portion of our winter to delay or deter the arachnids, is it any wonder that the Center for Disease Control is already reporting ER visits for tick bites are up across all regions of the country?

“Tick season is here and these tiny biters can make you seriously sick,” said Alison Hinckley, epidemiologist and Lyme disease expert with the CDC Division of Vector-Borne diseases. “The good news is you have options to help prevent tick bites when you spend time outdoors: You can wear EPA-registered insect repellent and permethrin-treated clothing, do tick checks, and remove attached ticks as quickly as possible. These simple steps can go a long way in protecting you and your family from diseases spread by ticks. And if you develop a rash or fever in the days to weeks after a bite, or after being in an area with ticks, seek medical care promptly.”

The talk was also relevant because May (literally starts tomorrow) is Lyme disease awareness month.

Lyme disease is the most common tickborne disease in the United States, according to the CDC, with an estimated 476,000 patients treated for Lyme disease each year. And every year, an estimated 31 million people are bitten by a tick.

Blacklegged ticks are the most common spreader of Lyme disease, and their habitat has been encroaching more and more into the Midwest over the past several years.

Tips from the CDC on preventing tick bites were echoed at Science Café: wear long sleeved shirts and pants outdoors, use chemicals like DEET or Premethrin if you are outdoors; check your body, clothing and gear for ticks after being outside; and remove attached ticks as soon as possible if they have latched on to your skin. If you are frequenting areas you know ticks may be, like grassy, brushy or wooded areas, be more vigilant after a visit.