Statewide Iowa — Iowans need to fight the bite this summer, especially when it comes to ticks which may be carrying Lyme disease.
Epidemiologist Rebecca Osborn says Iowans would be wise to check for ticks after spending any amount of time outdoors.
Iowa ranks 17th among the 50 states for reported cases of Lyme disease and Osborn says we should all take precautions. Left untreated, Lyme disease can have serious consequences, but caught early and with antibiotics, most people usually recover rapidly and completely.
Iowans can protect themselves from tick bites by using repellent on skin and clothing, wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and checking yourself for ticks after being outdoors. If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it right away.
The latest figures the Iowa Department of Public Health is supplying on Lyme disease are for 2017, in which 255 cases were reported statewide. Most cases occurred in the eastern half of the state.
