A picture of a muffin with five ticks on it has been posted online to warn people in the US against the disease the tiny insects spread.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the image on its Facebook page with the caption "There are 5 ticks in this photo. Can you spot them?"
Ticks can spread a range of disease and are found in New Zealand. The Ministry of Health says endemic ticks - ones unique to New Zealand - generally don't pose a risk to humans.
The cattle tick, which is introduced, can infect humans. Ticks found in New Zealand can spread bacteria and viruses.
The CDC warned ticks were common in the summer months and often found in grassy areas.
People reacted angrily to the picture, saying it had put them off muffins.
The reactions prompted another post from the CDC saying they were sorry they had ticked "people off."
Newshub
