Tick bites are causing Americans to visit the emergency room at the highest rate in nearly a decade, according to new CDC data. During the second week of April, 71 out of every 100,000 emergency room visits were for tick bites, more than double the usual average of about 30 per 100k. The Northeast is the most affected region, with 163 for every 100k ER visits in the Northeast, up from 52 in March. The ticks carry over a dozen diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis, which can transmit bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause serious illness. The CDC recommends avoiding wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter and avoiding hiking trails.