MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) -- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says a little education can go a long way in preventing mosquito and tick borne diseases from spreading.
Diep Hoang Johnson is an epidemiologist for the Division of Public Health. When it comes to preventing mosquitoes from thriving around your home she says even small amounts of stagnant water can be the cause.
Johnson says, “They only need very small amounts. They like the hot long days of that temperature to breed, so we do need to be more aware, and not only in your backyard, but talk to your neighbors to make sure that they’re aware as well.”
Ticks commonly carry lyme disease, but Johnson says that’s not the only tick-borne disease found in the area. She says, “Anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and Powassan viruses are the other types of tick-borne diseases that we have here, and it’s all transmitted by the same tick that transmits lyme disease, the deer tick or the black legged tick.”
Not all ticks are capable of transmitting diseases. Johnson says that the bacteria that causes lyme disease is found in only 20-to-24% of nymphs. In adults that rate doubles.
More steps have been taken recently to combat diseases in wildlife. The Dead Bird Hotline went active on May 1st and it allows anyone to report sightings of any birds found dead and have them tested by their county to check for present and emerging diseases. You can report a bird by calling 1-800-433-1610.
For more information on these diseases and others visit the Wisconsin DHS website.