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Start of Summer Brings Bugs, Disease

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The start of June means sunshine and warmer weather, but it also means the bugs are back.

Those insects are a sign of summer, but they’re also spreaders of disease.

On average, around 3,500 cases of Lyme disease are reported in the state each year.

That puts Wisconsin in the top 20 percent in the nation for the highest number of cases.

Rebecca Osborn, a Vectorborne Disease Epidemiologist with the state Department of Health Services, said even that number is an understatement.

“This number of reported Lyme Disease cases most likely underestimates the true occurrence of Lyme disease by more than 10-fold,” she said.

On top of Lyme disease, mosquitoes in the area can spread West Nile virus.

That’s a disease that generally causes mild, flu-like symptoms, but can create more serious neurological problems.

As the COVID-19 pandemic pushes people to spend more time outdoors, Osborne warns everyone to be careful.

She says current data show the spread of vectorborne diseases decreased last year, but it’s hard to say why that is.

“It’s hard to say if that’s because people perhaps weren’t visiting their doctor as often versus was it really a true decrease in transmission of the disease,” she said.

Regardless, transmission of diseases like Lyme disease is at a sustained high level.

Fortunately, Osborne said prevention is possible.

She recommends using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and checking for ticks after coming inside.

Erin Gottsacker worked at WXPR as a Morning Edition host and reporter from December 2020 to January 2023. During her time at the station, Erin reported on the issues that matter most in the Northwoods.
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