On April 23, 2026, CDC reported that its Tick Bite Tracker showed weekly emergency department visits for tick bites at their highest for this time of year since 2017, in all regions except the South Central United States (CDC release).
Here is what to do about it.
What CDC says to do before you go out
Treat clothing and gear. Permethrin can be used on boots, clothing and camping gear, and stays protective through several washings, according to CDC. Our permethrin page covers the label directions; permethrin is for fabric, not skin.
Use an EPA-registered repellent on skin. CDC lists repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone. See our DEET and picaridin pages.
What to do when you come inside
Tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing. Shower within two hours of coming indoors, which CDC says has been shown to reduce the risk of Lyme disease. Then check under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, in and around the hair, between the legs and around the waist.
Speed matters: Lyme bacteria usually pass only after about 36 hours of feeding, so a daily check and prompt removal are worth the effort. Our tick guide has the sources.
Around the yard
CDC's landscaping steps: remove leaf litter, clear tall grass and brush, put a 3-foot-wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawn and woods, mow often, stack wood neatly, keep play equipment away from yard edges and woods, and fence out unwelcome animals such as deer. Our blacklegged tick profile covers the species behind most Lyme cases.
If you find a tick attached
Grasp it as close to the skin as possible with clean, fine-tipped tweezers and pull straight up with steady, even pressure; don't twist or jerk it. Skip petroleum jelly, heat and nail polish: CDC says they may agitate the tick and force infected fluid into the skin. Clean the bite and your hands afterward, and dispose of the tick in a sealed container, wrapped in tape, in alcohol or down the toilet.
If a rash or fever develops within several weeks of removing a tick, see a doctor and mention the bite and where it happened (CDC). Whether any preventive treatment makes sense is a question for that doctor.
Source: CDC Newsroom, "CDC Data Show Weekly ER Visits for Tick Bites Higher than Usual" ↗, April 23, 2026. Prevention and removal steps: CDC, Preventing Tick Bites and What to Do After a Tick Bite.