There's a much more immediate reason to do everything you can to avoid being bitten by a tick: Lyme disease.

I'd gladly trade my symptoms for an allergy to red meat.  It would take me exactly zero seconds to make that decision.  After four years of what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-me I'm finally on an antibiotic protocol that seems to be working.  I'm hoping to make a BW trip this September.  Last one was May 2016.

Do everything you can to avoid being bitten by a tick.