Think Lyme disease is the only thing you have to worry about if you find a tick on you, you may want to look into the research Thomas Daniels, co-director of the Vector Ecology Laboratory at Fordham University, is doing. Here are some things to think about the next time you find a tick, and a few ways you can keep from getting ticks in the first place.

Lyme disease.

When people think about the dangers of ticks, the first thing that comes into their minds is Lyme disease, and for good reason. This disease has the potential to do permanent damage to the human body. It starts with flu-like symptoms, but can lead to arthritis, heart disease, and brain and nervous system problems. The dangers of this disease have grown so much, it now has it's own calendar event: Lyme Disease Awareness Month. But this is not the only scary disease this bug carries.

Deer tick virus.

Thomas Daniels says the deer tick virus, a variant of Powassan virus, which was reported recently among a small population of ticks in southern Connecticut, has now been seen in New York. According to the CDC, the Powassan virus can infect the central nervous system and cause encephalitis and meningitis. The symptoms of these diseases can include weakness, confusion, fever, headache, vomiting, loss of coordination, speech difficulties and seizures. Though, it is important to point out, many people do not develop symptoms. But don't take this disease lightly. Thomas says, "Unlike with Lyme and the other big infections from this tick, there is virtually no 'grace period.'" It takes 24 to 36 hours for a Lyme disease causing level of B. burgdorferi bacteria to be transferred into a human host, but deer tick virus, "is transmitted much faster, and it can be fatal in about 10 percent of actual cases."

Protection.

Here are some practical things you can do to protect yourself from these and other tick-related viruses.

• Check the tick index to see if risks are high in New York.

• When in the woods, keep your shirt tucked in and pull your socks up over your pants.

• Wear insect repellent on exposed skin.

• Wear a hat.

• Be vigilant to check for ticks and be sure to get the tick's heads when you remove them.

• If you get ticks in your yard, have a pest control company do a tick treatment to reduce the danger.

Ticks in New York are serious business. Tick disease often goes undiagnosed, which makes it hard to accurately track the threat level. Always protect yourself when you go out. And, always protect your yard from ticks.

Thomas Pest Services offers tick control in Albany and throughout the Capital District and Adirondack region. Contact us to find out how we can protect your family from ticks and the dangers associated with these biting insects.