NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — As the weather warms up across the country, more and more hungry ticks are emerging in grassy and wooded areas.
In states like New York, the three most commonly found ticks are the deer tick (or black-legged tick), the American dog tick and the lone star tick. However, there are more than 30 species of ticks in the state, 10 of which commonly bite humans and four that can transmit diseases.
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Every year, thousands of tick-borne diseases are reported in the United States, but Stony Brook Medicine Dr. Luis Marcos is predicting this year will be worse.
“We have seen tons of cases with tick bites, particularly with lone star ticks – not just one tick, but multiple tick bites,” he said.
Dr. Marcos says that the most concerning illness carried by ticks in New York State is Lyme disease, which can mimic symptoms of the flu and COVID-19.
“The symptoms of Lyme disease is very similar, at the beginning, like COVID-19 with the flu-like symptoms. So, if you have those symptoms, and you think you may have COVID, it may not be COVID, it may be Lyme disease,” the doctor said.
He stresses that deer ticks are the only species in New York that carries Lyme disease.
The illness is normally treated using antibiotics and is preventable if a tick is properly from the skin within 24 hours.
Dr. Marcos recommends that everyone use bug spray if they are going outside into a grassy or wooded area. He also recommends covering the skin with clothing to prevent a bite.
After coming home from the area, the doctor also recommends taking a shower, as it is harder for ticks to attach themselves to wet skin, and the water will wash the bugs away.
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