Know Your Ticks-4/9/2024

Kingsford and Iron River, Michigan – April 8, 2024. In Michigan, there are several
kinds of ticks that bite people and pets, and some can carry harmful bacteria,
viruses, and parasites. Not all tick bites will make you sick, but tick-borne
diseases, including Lyme Disease, do occur in Dickinson and Iron counties and
can be serious if not treated. Tick identification can assist you in knowing what
your risk of disease is and may help your physician decide how to treat your
illness.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) provides tick
identification at no charge to Michigan citizens. There are two ways to have a tick
identified, 1) By submitting a photo of your tick, or, 2) by sending the tick to the
MDHHS for microscopic identification. If you want to submit a photo of your tick,
the MDHHS will make all attempts to identify the tick based on the condition of
the tick and the condition of the photos. However, definitive tick identification may
only be made by sending the tick for microscopic examination. Visit
www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases for additional information on submitting
ticks for identification.
The Dickinson-Iron District Health Department, Environmental Health Division,
will assist you with questions on how to access the MDHHS website to submit a
photo of your tick. Also, we are available to answer your tick or Lyme Disease
related questions. Please contact us at 906-779-7239, Monday-Friday 8-4 p.m.
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