From the desk of the Editor:

News Flash: Ticks Gone Wild! UPDATE 5/30/2019

Just read an article that this year with all of the rain and when warmer temperatures finally get here the tick populations in the Midwest are going to explode! the breeding conditions are ripe and we all need to pay attention to those pesky blood suckers. They like to hide and wait for a free ride to a lunch date with anyone man or beast to walk by. Tall grasses, shrubs, weeds, trees, etc. are there favorite hiding spot. Lyme's disease is not a pleasant thing to experience. Although some people do not show any or minor symptoms, the disease can flare up months or even years later. Those folks who get bit and have a more severe reaction may be on medication for a long time.

  • Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
  • Erythema migrans (EM) rash: Occurs in approximately 70 to 80 percent of infected persons. Begins at the site of a tick bite after a delay of 3 to 30 days (average is about 7 days)

If you see any of the above contact your doctor. Don't ignore them. Things may get worse.

The incidents of Lyme's disease are still on the rise in many states. We have a couple of members who have Lyme's disease and are dealing with the symptoms. Please read the CDC article and take precautions when the warmer weather shows up.

There have been cases of Lyme's disease reported in Illinois already. It also has been reported that the disease is spreading further each year. 

We need to be careful when we go out into the woods and grassy areas where these little pests are hiding looking for a free lunch.

Below is an interesting document from the CDC on ticks. Please download and read it. It shows the symptoms of the diseases that ticks carry.

Tick Borne Diseases.pdf