Wave action and currents tend to bring the organism to the shoreline. The cercariae parasites live for only a day or so and typically swim around the upper few inches of lake water. Tubbs said it’s uncertain as to why itch has emerged early this summer. “From what I understand, it can be present one day and gone the next, so warnings may not be very accurate.” “I’m unaware of any public health department that tests the water for itch,” Tubbs said. Sandy Tubbs, director at Douglas County Public Health, says lake itch is not something they test for, treat or monitor. Much like poison ivy, however, one’s sensitivity to lake itch can increase throughout their life. Some people show no symptoms, even when others swimming at the same time and place break out severely. Not everyone is sensitive to lake itch, though. A similar occurrence is the red bumps humans receive from mosquito bites. Itching and welts are not caused by the organism living under the skin, but by an allergic reaction. These parasites are released by infected carriers into the water where they can come in contact with people and burrow into their skin. Lake itch, also known as swimmer’s itch, is a temporary rash caused by an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites called cercariae carried by waterfowl, semi-aquatic mammals and snails. These reports are about a month earlier than last summer. In the past week, reports have come in of several area lakes being infected with lake itch, including Darling, Geneva, Carlos, Mary and L’Homme Dieu.
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