Virginia on alert as tick bite wounds continue to creep along

Reports issued by the Centers for Disease Control show tick bite season could be one of the worst in years based on thousands visiting emergency rooms for tick-borne illnesses.

Virginia is among the top 20 for states with high rates of tick patients while ERs and urgent cares around the Commonwealth saw more than 1,600 patients just in the month of April. CDC information shows the one of the highest concentrations of tick-transmitted Lyme disease in Virginia existed among counties surrounding Interstate 81 and the Blue Ridge from 2019-2022 with 372 patients. Pulaski and Wythe counties were the highest in the far Southwest with 66 and 85, respectively.

CDC recommends wearing repellents to fight the tick bite along with double checking after hikes including pets, staying out of high grass and leaf litter and visit a DR if you experience a fever or rash days after a tick bite.

(IMAGE: Property of Centers for Disease Control)