You may have seen the recent headlines – an American citizen contracted the tick-borne Powassan virus (while traveling to Canada) and passed away upon returning home. While shocking, it isn’t surprising.
Tick-borne illnesses are spreading into new regions – including parts of the northern U.S. – where there already have been fatalities. Powassan is still relatively rare, but there are other tick-borne illnesses that can cause severe symptoms and even result in death.
Whether you stay at home on Long Island or travel to another region, you should be aware of tick-related diseases in the area and take precautions to avoid tick encounters.