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Worst states for tick-borne illnesses REVEALED… is your hometown at risk?
Tick season is upon the US and while the critters live in every state, new research reveals the locations that have it worse than others.
Experts analyzed the 50 states based on six categories, including infestation risk and environmental factors, finding New York is at high risk of tick-borne illnesses this year.
New York had nearly 16,800 Lyme disease cases reported in 2022, more than doubling recent highs of about 8,000 cases.
Pennsylvania came in second, followed by Texas, California and Wisconsin.
The states most affected by ticks are New York, Pennsylvania and Texas and were ranked based on how high they scored in categories including Infestation Risk, Environmental Factors, Tick Distribution, Climate, Agricultural Factors, and Pest Control
Tick-related infections are on the rise in the US.
The parasites carry the dreaded Lyme disease that infects about 476,000 people each year, which can cause rashes, flu-like symptoms, facial paralysis and memory issues.
Backlegged ticks, more commonly known as deer ticks, are the most common blood-sucking parasites throughout the country, alongside the Western Backlegged tick found along the Pacific Coast.
Deer ticks carry Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that causes a bulls-eye-shaped rash and flu-like symptoms.
It's a common misconception that ticks only exist in wooded or rural areas, said Dr. Megan Linske, a certified ecologist at the Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, who explained that they live in leaf litter and shrubbery found in your backyard.
Even in the concrete jungle, ticks can end up on your skin or clothes after a short stroll through the local park.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that Lyme disease infects about 476,000 people in the US each year
Deer ticks carry Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that causes a bulls-eye-shaped rash and flu-like symptoms (pictured)
New York was ranked as the worst due to its milder winters that helps more ticks survive and reproduce, along with mice and rats that are food sources.
Pennsylvania came second with 8,413 annual cases of Lyme disease, according to Pest Gnome, a home service marketplace, which conducted the research.
Texas came in third due to its infestation risk ranking of 42, despite the low number of just 23 infections.
To determine which states are the worst for tick-borne illnesses, Pet Gnome looked at six categories: Infestation Risk, Environmental Factors, Tick Distribution, Climate, Agricultural Factors, and Pest Control.
The team gathered categorical data for each state and calculated its score out of 100 points to determine where it ranked in each category.
The state's overall ranking was then discerned from the average score against all factors and categories.
Experts have warned that if you find a tick on your body, it takes 24 to 48 hours for Lyme disease to enter your bloodstream.
However, you should still remove the tick immediately because the Powasson virus, which is found in the tick's mouthpiece, can be transferred into your system within 15 minutes.
If a tick bites you, you should immediately remove it by either using your nails or a pair of tweezers.
'It does not matter if you leave the 'head' in,' said Sam Telford, a professor of infectious disease and global health at Tufts University.
'It is just like a splinter and will work itself out or will be walled off as a foreign body. Disinfect the site of the bite with an alcohol wipe,' he added.
It's important to monitor your body over the next three weeks to look for an unexplained rash or fever and seek medical attention if symptoms arise.
If a tick bites you, you should immediately remove it by either using your nails or a pair of tweezers
Ticks can transmit at least 17 diseases to humans, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever which causes severe headaches and a high fever and tularemia - also known as rabbit fever that can cause skin ulcers and swollen glands.
However, experts reported that 80 percent of cases are attributed to Lyme disease which can be cured with antibiotics.
But if left untreated for months to a year after infection, it can cause prolonged symptoms including swollen joints and arthritis, difficulty concentrating and nerve damage to your skin, muscles and organs.
People should be warned that the length of 'tick season' varies by state, so just because the summer has ended doesn't necessarily mean you're out of the woods.
12 states suffer from ticks year-round including Texas, California and Washington, but 'even in winter, when it gets a bit warmer the ticks will emerge and they will be hungry,' said Becky Smith, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Illinois.
Ticks appear in areas that have lots of deer, hence the name, because their blood is needed for a female tick to produce eggs.
A single deer can have up to 100 feeding ticks on it at any time during the 16 weeks of adult tick season - which is from March to mid-May and from mid-August to November, according to the New York State Department of Health.
The female deer tick can release 2,000 eggs each season, meaning one deer can source more than three million baby ticks.
The best way to prevent tick bites is to check yourself regularly, even after going into the back yard because most people pick them up in the area surrounding their property, Dr. Linske advised.
'They like to prioritize areas such as behind the knees, groin, or armpits. However, I also commonly find them around the belt line or under hair,' she said.
'By consistently checking for ticks, you are more apt to remove them before they have had time to feed and transfer pathogens.'
People should also check their outdoor pets, take preventative measures to treat them with a tick collar or medication and wear light-colored clothing during hikes to spot a tick on your attire easily.
'And when you come home, take all your clothes and chuck them into the dryer on high heat,' Dr. Linske said.
'This will desiccate any hitchhikers you may have picked up.'