Tick season is here: Take precautions to keep yourself safe

Metro Wire Staff

Temperatures are increasing and people are starting to spend more time outside, but they won’t be alone as ticks are also starting to emerge with the warmer weather.

According to Aspirus, that means an increased chance of tick bites and potentially contracting Lyme disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 476,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the U.S. every year.

May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month and aims to spread awareness of how to prevent Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

Ashley Johnson is a Nurse Practitioner at the Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center in Woodruff where they treat provide advanced care to diagnose, control, and treat tick-borne illnesses. She says that tick bites are very prevalent in the state of Wisconsin.

“Any time the snow melts and the ground starts to thaw, ticks start to come out,” Johnson said. “So, anytime you’re outside in the woods or clean up brush, you’re going to want to cover up and protect yourself from tick bites.”

There are several precautions one can take to help prevent tick-borne illnesses. Tips include:

• Wear long pants with your socks pulled over your pants
• Wear light-colored clothing
• Use a bug spray on your clothes when you are participating in activities outdoors
• Place your clothes in the dryer for 15 minutes after being outside to kill any ticks
• Perform daily tick checks, especially in areas such as the bend of the knees, groin, beltline, hairline, and armpits

Anyone looking for more information on tick-borne illness care or services to treat tick-borne illnesses can visit the Aspirus website.