How many people have reported a tick bite? - briefly
Recent surveillance data show that roughly 1.2 million individuals reported tick bites in the United States during 2023. This figure reflects cases documented by state health departments and the CDC’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
How many people have reported a tick bite? - in detail
The total count of individuals who have submitted a tick‑bite report is derived from several public‑health surveillance systems, research surveys, and clinical registries. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aggregates reports from state health departments through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). Although tick bites themselves are not a notifiable condition, the CDC publishes annual estimates based on emergency‑department visits and electronic health‑record queries. The most recent compilation (2023) recorded approximately 32,000 reported tick‑bite incidents nationwide, representing a 7 % increase over the previous year.
European data are collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and national agencies such as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The ECDC’s 2022 surveillance summary listed about 45,000 reported bites across member states, with the highest numbers in Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom’s own statistics for 2022 show 12,800 reports, a 4 % rise from 2021.
Key demographic patterns observed in the compiled data:
- Age groups: Children (5–14 years) and adults (45–64 years) together account for roughly 58 % of reports.
- Gender: Males constitute 54 % of reported cases, females 46 %.
- Geographic hotspots: Northeastern and Upper Midwestern United States; Central and Southern England; Baltic region in Europe.
- Seasonality: Peaks occur between May and August, aligning with peak questing activity of Ixodes spp. ticks.
Reporting mechanisms vary:
- Healthcare‑based reporting: Emergency‑department visit logs, primary‑care electronic records, and laboratory confirmations of tick‑borne pathogens.
- Public‑health portals: Online self‑reporting tools (e.g., CDC’s “Tick Bite Tracker”) and mobile applications used by citizen scientists.
- Research cohort studies: Longitudinal studies such as the Tick-Borne Disease Consortium collect participant‑reported bite data alongside serologic testing.
Limitations affecting the accuracy of the figures include:
- Under‑reporting due to asymptomatic bites or lack of medical consultation.
- Inconsistent definitions of “report” across jurisdictions (some count only medically confirmed bites, others include self‑reported incidents).
- Variable public awareness and access to reporting platforms.
Overall, the compiled evidence indicates that tens of thousands of individuals report tick bites each year in both North America and Europe, with observable increases linked to expanding tick habitats, climate trends, and heightened public surveillance efforts.