I grew up in an area where tickborne encephalitis is endemic. For those who don't know, tickborne encephalitis is a delightful viral disease, with 5% lethality rate and a real chance of neurological damage in case of recovery. Oh, and the virus also persists throughout the whole life and can re-activated by antibiotics or other kinds of immune stress.

Our trips to the woods looked like a visit to a BSL-4 lab. Tightly buttoned shirts, long sleeves, checking each other after a visit, etc.

Fuck ticks.