What you should know about ticks this season

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - It's almost spring time 2018, and even though the weather is not very warm yet, ticks are already a problem for many people.

Bug expert Dr. John Cambridge brought some live bugs to the Good Day studio.

Ticks have a 2-year life cycle, so he says we are still dealing with ticks from last year.

There are many misconceptions about how to remove ticks that have buried into your skin. Do not try to burn the tick because it could end up vomiting inside your skin, says Dr. John Cambridge.

He says the best way to remove a tick is by using tweezers, getting close to the skin and pulling straight out. Make sure, when you pull out the bug that you see the head and mouthparts.

Last year a new health concern was brewing for tick bites, as the Powassan Virus became a threat due to two mild winters in a row.

MORE: A bite from this tick could result in a red meat allergy.

The virus is spread by ticks, similar to Lyme Disease, but can be spread much faster. Dr. Mike Cirigliano explained on Good Day Philadelphia last year that if a tick has been on you for 24-hours, it is usually cause for concern. However, with Powassan Virus, it can be spread within 15 minutes.

Symptoms for most people include flu-like illness, but it can cause seizures, and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.

MORE: Powassan Virus: Tick-borne virus can be transmitted in just minutes

According to Dr. Mike, 10% of people who get the virus die, and 50% suffer from permanent memory loss and neurological problems.

Cases in the United States have mostly centralized around the Northeast and around the Great Lakes.