Warmer Weather Ushers In Peak Month For Ticks

Saturday, June 26th, 2021 -- 6:51 AM

(WMTV) -As Wisconsinites welcome warm summer weather, rising temperatures also usher in peak months for the tick population.

Beyond pesky bites, ticks can carry serious diseases. In Wisconsin, the disease most associated with them is Lyme disease, UW Health said. The organization reported that Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium spread through the bite of an infected backlegged tick, commonly known as a deer tick. In Wisconsin, more than one in five ticks are infected with the specific bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, according to a release. Dr. Nasia Safdar, medical director of infection control at UW Health, adds that just because a person is bitten by a deer tick does not mean they’ll get Lyme disease.

Signs of Lyme disease can range from common symptoms like a bullseye rash, headaches and fatigue to more atypical symptoms including joint inflammation, heart rhythm abnormalities or rare neurological conditions, UW Health reported. Experts add that most infections can be treated with antibiotics.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.