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State Health Officer Dr. Sheri Johnson said there were 1,819 cases during 2007, compared with 1,456 in 2006, and some of last year’s cases may not even have been counted yet.
“While Lyme disease has been reported in many areas around Wisconsin, most cases in 2007 occurred in the northwestern and west central regions of the state,” she said, noting that May is Wisconsin Lyme Disease Awareness Month
Johnson said most people in Wisconsin who develop Lyme disease are exposed to infected ticks between May and August, with the greatest risk of developing the illness during June and July.
The disease is caused by a bacteria carried by small ticks called deer ticks, and health officials said it can cause debilitating arthritis as well as serious heart and nervous system problems.
“An infected tick has to be attached to a person’s skin for at least 24 hours before it can transmit the Lyme disease bacteria. Most people infected with Lyme disease will develop the EM (erythema migrans) rash (characterized by a ’bulls eye’) but not everyone develops the skin rash,” Johnson said Friday.
“It’s important to consult a physician immediately if you have been bitten by a deer tick and are developing symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, pain in the muscles or joints, enlarged lymph nodes, or facial paralysis.”
Health officials suggest, among other things:
— Avoiding wooded and bushy areas with high grass and lots of leaf litter because ticks prefer these areas.
— Using effective tick repellants and applying according to the label instructions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults use repellants with 20-30 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothing to prevent tick bites. Repellants that contain permethrin can also be applied to clothing.
— Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants are best.
— Landscaping homes and recreational areas to reduce the number of ticks and creating tick-safe zones by using woodchips or gravel along the border between lawn and wooded area.
— Checking frequently for ticks and removing them promptly.
— Removing attached ticks slowly and gently, using a thin-bladed pair of tweezers.
