Three people from Connecticut died last year from mosquito-borne illnesses, so officials are warning about the dangers ticks and mosquitoes can present as more people head outdoors.

Tick and mosquito activity is spiking. Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined scientists at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven to make the public aware of the potential threats.

Experts say Lyme disease can show similar symptoms to the coronavirus -- including fever and sore muscles. They add that the best defense is long clothing and insect repellent.

"Lyme disease is such a cruel, crippling disease," says Blumenthal. "And so many people suffer from it without knowing until it's too late, and sometimes they never know that they are suffering from it."

Blumenthal says he's even more concerned because a positive case of eastern equine encephalitis just appeared in western Massachusetts from the bite of an infected mosquito.