Summer months are the highest for Lyme Disease and other tickborne illness outbreaks across the country. According to the CDC, an estimated 31 million people are bitten by ticks each year, with most encounters taking place between April and October. Pennsylvania and other states in the Northeast report the highest number of emergency room visits for tick bites so far in 2026, with about 112 visits per 100,000 being related to tick bites. 

To limit your chances of tick bites, apply insect repellent when working or spending time outdoors and wear protective clothing that is light in color and covers most of your skin. You can also treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. When wrapping up for the day, take a shower and conduct a tick check. If you find a tick on you, grab it as close to the skin as possible with tweezers and pull it straight up. Do not cover the tick with petroleum jelly or use a lit match to remove! These methods are ineffective and can result in the tick pushing its saliva back into your skin, increasing the chance of an infection. For more information about what you can do to avoid tick bites and what to do if you find a tick on you, visit the PA Department of Health’s website.