A dramatic rise in the number of cases of a deadly disease spread by ticks has prompted health officials in Canada to expand their monitoring of ticks. Ticks are feared spreading an extremely rare but potentially deadly virus.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, it has significantly increased screening for Powassan virus in the tiny, blood-sucking arachnids to include blacklegged ticks.

New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maine witnessed human cases of the virus this spring. The virus can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. Several other states are on alert and on the lookout for the disease.

The virus was first reported in 1958 after a child contracted the disease and later died in Powassan, Ont. Only 16 human cases have been reported in Canada since then.

Over the last 10 years, Canada has witnessed a rapid expansion in the number of blacklegged ticks, said health officials.

Experts have said that the snow is gone, but a cozy quilt for baby black-legged ticks was provided by the snow as it blanketed the mid-Hudson region. This has significantly boosted the population of ticks despite the record-setting frigid temperatures.

Hillary Thing of Accord expressed no surprise at the news by researchers from the University of New Hampshire on Thursday about ticks. She experienced a bite from a tick while gardening on Sunday.

Binghamton University researcher Ralph Garruto advised people to keep a check on themselves for ticks not only after hikes in the woods, but also after trips to urban parks and playgrounds.