Tick season is off to a bad start.

What's making news around the country is also affecting us right here in Dane County, Wisconsin: Tick season is off to a bad start. In the past week, there were at least 35 tick-related visits to urgent care centers in Dane County – last year at this time we saw 17 visits. Your Local Epidemiologist reports that emergency department visits in the U.S. are “nearly triple the typical rate at this time of year," saying the Northeast is “bearing the brunt of it, with the Midwest running a close second."

What should you be concerned about?

With any tick bite, you should be concerned about illnesses the tick can spread to you (or your pet). Not all tick bites will cause illness, but you should protect yourself, family, and pets when you enjoy the outdoors. The most common type of tick that people and animals get sick from in Wisconsin is the deer tick, also called the blacklegged tick (pictured). In late May to mid-July, ticks can be as small as a poppy seed!

We've all heard of Lyme disease, but there are other diseases carried by ticks, like Powassan virus, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. Check out our blog post for information on those diseases and Wisconsin Department of Health Services for other illnesses common in Wisconsin. 

Remove ticks safely

After being outdoors, shower within two hours to wash off any ticks that may not be attached yet and do a full body check. Make sure you focus on spots where ticks hide, including your armpits, groin, scalp, belly button, and ears. Check your pets too!

If you happen to find a tick attached to your skin, remove it safely, as soon as possible. Our blog post tells you what to do (and not to do!). 

Symptoms to watch for

The early symptoms of different tickborne diseases are usually pretty similar. They often start within 30 days after a bite from an infected tick:

• Fever and/or chills
• Rash (which may look like a bullseye, but keep in mind not everyone gets this telltale rash)
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle and/or joint aches

Call your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms in the month after you know you've been bitten or you've spent a good amount of time outside (camping, hiking, etc.). If you're diagnosed with a disease caused by bacteria and your doctor prescribes antibiotics, be sure to take the antibiotics exactly as directed, including how much medicine, how often to take it, and for how long.  

Stay tick-aware all season long

There are lots of ways to prevent tick bites, and illnesses from tick bites are preventable too. So do your daily tick checks, use repellent, and dress the part when you enjoy the outdoors! To stay aware of tick activity in your area, you can monitor the Wisconsin Tick Bite Tracker. You can also download the Tick App.