Half of all ticks tested in Wisconsin this spring have Lyme Disease causing bacteria

A project being done by the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute has found just over half of all ticks looked at this spring in Wisconsin, have the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease.

For the third year in a row, the institute has asked residents from every county in the state to mail in ticks that were found on pets or people this spring.

So far, of the over 700 ticks tested, 51% had the bacteria present.

However, this doesn’t mean that you have a 50-50 chance of getting lyme disease if bit by a tick. This is because it takes several hours for the bacteria to move from the ticks stomach to it’s mouth and then into the host. If you can find and remove a tick within 24 hours of being bit, experts say you have less than a 10% chance of contracting the disease.

Officials say the best defense against tick bites is using tick spray, wearing long clothes, and doing tick checks after being in environments where ticks are likely to be.