Today, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-C Marcy) held a "Don't Get Ticked NY" event with guest speakers that taught the public about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, as well as how to remove a tick and protect against a bite properly.

“As we mark the start of the summer, it is important to protect ourselves and our families from Lyme and tick-borne diseases, which can have damaging health effects. It is also just as important to know how to prevent a tick bite, how to remove a tick, and what to do if you contract a tick-borne disease,” said Assemblywoman Buttenschon. “I would like to thank all those who attended my “Don’t Get Ticked NY” event today, as well as our guest speakers who were extremely informative.”

The guest speakers at the event included Dr. Saravanan Thangamani from SUNY Upstate and Holy Wise from the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

“Deer ticks continue to increase in numbers in addition to the Lone Star Tick and the Dog Tick which is also expanding in Central New York,” said Dr. Saravanan Thangamani. “This is of a large concern to human health.”

“One can enjoy the outdoors, by taking the proper precautions to reduce interactions with ticks,” said Holy Wise.

Each summer, the New York State Department of Health collects ticks across the state and tests them for various diseases. This year, the most prevalent diseases carried by ticks are Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, and Powassan encephalitis.

"I would once again like to thank Dr. Saravanan Thangamani and Holy Wise for educating us on how we can protect each other and our loved ones from ticks this summer," said Buttenschon. "I encourage anyone who suspects they have been bitten by a tick or have a disease from one to contact the Oneida County Department of Health at (315) 798-6400."