Massachusetts hospitals are seeing a sharp rise in emergency visits for tick bites this spring and early summer, the highest in three years, per health officials.
This surge defies last year’s drought, which should have reduced tick numbers, but warmer weather and increased outdoor activities have boosted exposures. CDC data shows about 125 tick bite cases per 100,000 ER visits by early July 2025—the worst summer spike since 2019 and highest in five years across the Northeast.
May data reveals tick exposures at under 0.7% of weekly ER visits statewide, with illnesses below 0.2%, yet both mark big increases from prior years. Hardest-hit areas include Dukes and Nantucket counties (48 cases through May), followed by Bristol and Plymouth (43 each)…