(WBEN) - We are in the thick of summertime in Western New York and the tick population is increasing in Erie County.
And with the threat of ticks comes some suggested awareness to the dangers that some ticks may bring to not only your pet, but yourself.
Lyme WNY founder Rebecca Roll describes ticks for WBEN as the pest that knows no borders.
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"The tick population has dramatically increased in Erie County right now," says Roll. "There's a high prevalence and I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that it's a wooded problem, that ticks are only being found in wooded areas and people only need to be concerned if they're camping, or they have deer in their backyard. And you know, sadly, it's an everywhere problem right now."
Roll notes that she got two calls just this 4th of July about two people who contracted ticks at the beach.
"I can't tell you how many people, within my bubble, have now been affected by Lyme disease and have gotten either bit by a tick or have discovered that they have Lyme, after many years of misdiagnosis. And that's frightening to me, because those are people who are within my bubble. So I'm always concerned about how do we reach the people outside of our bubble?"
According to the Erie County Department of Health, A tick bite can transmit bacteria that can cause severe illness. The most commonly mentioned tick-borne illness, Lyme disease, can cause flu-like symptoms days or weeks after the bite occurs. Other tick-borne illnesses like Powassan disease have been reported in New York State; as tick populations expand to warmer, more inviting areas, they can bring other diseases with them.
"Bartonella, mycoplasma, which are sometimes more severe than the actual Lyme disease itself, and more difficult to treat," added Roll.
The #1 thing you can do to prevent these ticks from invading you and your pets? Spray.
"We recommend a product called Ranger Ready which is picaridin-based and also permethrin-based product. Picaridin you can use on your skin. Permethrin, you can use on your gear. Read the bottles closely of how to apply these products. It's something that we do every single day and our family. Especially if you have children who are playing outdoors, we always say spray your gear from the base up. It's very safe. I think a lot of people get concerned that they're using chemicals, but to be quite honest, I would rather use these preventions than have the aftermath of what can happen with Lyme disease," says Roll.
If you do find a tick on you or your pet, Roll says you should visit the following CDC website for proper advice on removal.
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"I think one of the biggest things we tell people is do not use anything besides a tick removal tool or tweezers. Do not use essential oils, don't use Vaseline or burn it or any of these like myths that people say to get this tick out because all it does is agitate the tick. And then what happens is, it causes the tick then to regurgitate more bacteria into your system, and make you even sicker," says Roll.
"We always say don't throw it out, don't flush it, send it in to get tested, and kind of use it as a guidance as well, if the tick was carrying any pathogens. That's some really important advice. And also, I think another big misconception is that this tick has to be attached for so many hours, 24 to 48 to 72. And there's actually research and data that shows it can happen within minutes, it doesn't take long for that bacteria to be transmitted into the bloodstream."