New Bipartisan Bill Aims to Minimize the Amount of Lyme Disease Cases in Wisconsin

By: Amanda Lojewski 6/3/19 WAOW

WAUSAU Wis. — Ticks and Lyme Disease can take a deadly turn.

“In our area we primarily have the american dog tick or the wood tick and then the black legged tick or the deer tick which is the one that causes Lyme Disease,” said Brianna Wright, UW Extension – Horticulture Educator

Wisconsin was ranked the 4th worst state in the country for Lyme Disease in 2018.

“A lot of times you’ll read that tick season is May through September but honestly anytime there’s not snow on the ground, it can be tick season,” said Wright.

Humans to ticks are like a taxi as they attach to your skin or clothing and a tick bite symptom can often be mistaken for a common cold or flu.

It is treatable and preventable but not curable. Wisconsin legislators are pushing to reduce tick borne diseases through a new package of 5 bills. “These bills are bipartisan and in both houses,” said Rep. Katrina Shankland, (D) Stevens Point.

The bill would add a full-time epidemiologist, warning signs for tick risks and bug spray for sale at state parks.

“I’m finally glad it’s here and we have a bipartisan set of bills to be able to address it,” said Rep. Patrick Snyder, (R) Schofield.

Tax payers won’t be ticked if the bill passes, the money to fund the bill will not come out of Wisconsin tax payers pockets.

“The goal is to make sure people are aware of Lyme Disease and the consequences if left untreated,” said Shankland.

So before you head out, make sure you know what to look for to stay safe from ticks.