Mismatched online public concern and tick-borne disease risk in China

Abstract

Introduction

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are increasing public health concerns in China. This study examines public awareness and concern using data from the People Cloud, a national public opinion data platform.

Methods

We analyzed 358,862 posts related to ticks, tick bites, Lyme disease, and tick-borne encephalitis from October 2022 to November 2023. Temporal trends and geographic distribution were assessed to identify patterns of public interest.

Results

Public concern peaked in April, coinciding with tick season, with “ticks” being the most mentioned term, particularly on social media platforms, such as WeChat. High search activity was concentrated in southeastern and northern provinces, especially Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Jiangsu. Lyme disease posts were more dispersed, while tick-borne encephalitis posts clustered in southern areas.

Conclusion

Public interest in ticks follows seasonal and regional trends, reflecting tick activity but not always matching disease risk or tick distribution. Monitoring public opinion data can guide targeted health interventions and improve disease prevention efforts.