Naming a former Imperial Brands executive for a CDC job is the latest example, advocates say, of tobacco industry influence in Trump administration.

According to the CDC, 31 million people in the United States are bitten by a tick every year. In 2026, the CDC reported that tick bites are higher than normal in many parts of the country during this time of year.

Emergency room visits for tick bites have reached their highest levels in nearly a decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of mid-April, 71 out of every 100,000 ER visits in the US were related to tick bites,

PHOENIX — The CDC is reporting that ER visits for tick bites are higher than usual. The CDC says that, according to its Bite Tracker, bites are reported at higher-than-normal levels in many parts of the country. Arizona is located in the CDC's WEST region for reporting purposes.