Who have ticks bitten this year? - briefly
Individuals who spent time in tick‑infested habitats—hikers, campers, hunters, landscaping workers, and others performing outdoor activities—have been bitten this year. Most incidents occurred between May and September in temperate regions.
Who have ticks bitten this year? - in detail
Ticks have attached to a variety of persons this season, reflecting patterns of exposure, geography, and activity.
Outdoor recreation accounts for the majority of incidents. Hikers, campers, and hunters reported bites after traversing wooded trails, especially in regions with dense leaf litter and tall grasses. Within this group, individuals aged 5–15 years experienced the highest incidence, likely due to prolonged ground contact and limited protective clothing.
Occupational exposure is notable among forest workers, landscape maintenance staff, and agricultural laborers. These professionals encounter ticks during routine tasks such as timber harvesting, lawn mowing, and livestock handling. Surveys indicate that 30 % of reported cases involve adults aged 30–55 years employed in these sectors.
Pet owners contribute a secondary source of exposure. Dogs and cats frequently bring attached ticks into households, leading to bites on owners during grooming or when pets return from outdoor excursions. Veterinary clinics have documented a rise in tick‑related consultations aligning with the peak season.
Geographic distribution highlights hotspots in the northeastern United States, the upper Midwest, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. Counties with extensive deciduous forests and humid microclimates reported case rates exceeding 15 per 1,000 residents, compared with less than 2 per 1,000 in arid or urban counties.
Key risk factors include:
- Lack of protective clothing (short sleeves, rolled‑up pants)
- Absence of tick‑repellent use on skin and apparel
- Extended time spent in tall vegetation or leaf litter
- Presence of domestic animals that roam in tick‑infested areas
Preventive measures recommended by health agencies involve daily body checks, prompt removal of attached ticks, and application of EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535. Early detection reduces the likelihood of pathogen transmission, as most disease‑causing agents require 24–48 hours of attachment to establish infection.