The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is urging New Yorkers to be careful of ticks while spending time outdoors, especially since many are traveling to forested and wooded areas. The DOH's report has helpful preventative steps you can take, as well tips on how to remove ticks. And this FAQ on ticks has more info about the nasty buggers.
Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said, "While the number of tick related illnesses has fluctuated recently, there has been a steady increase over the past few years. This may be due to better disease surveillance and reporting, but there also may be a true rise in tick-related disease. New Yorkers should take precautions such as wearing long sleeves and socks when outdoors and using an insect repellent containing DEET." Here's a graphic showing the trend of tick-related illnesses.
In fact, Senator Charles Schumer is now being treated for Lyme Disease. He says that he was bitten when he "went tramping through the woods with Congressman John Hall to check dams," and is undergoing a course of medication.
