MINNESOTA, USA — As Minnesotans head outside to appreciate the warm weather, so does the state's tick population.
Some of these ticks can put you at risk for Lyme Disease and, this year, doctors are seeing more reported cases than ever before. According to the latest data from the Minnesota Department of Health, the majority of Minnesotans live in moderate to high risk areas when it comes to tick-borne illness.
Dr. Frank Rhame, an Infectious Disease Physician with Allina Health, said that the ticks are coming out earlier this year due to the warmer weather.
"The Lyme ticks don't look at the calendar, they look at the weather and they have gotten started earlier this year because it is so warm, they come out as soon as they can survive," Rhame said.
Rhame said that deer ticks are the ones to watch for. The "Blacklegged Tick," also known as the "Deer Tick," is incredibly small — about the size of a sesame seed.
"It's an odd thing about the infection, the tick has to be on you for about 24 hours at least and sometimes longer to infect you," Rhame said.
The Deer Tick may be small but its bite is mighty. Rhame said if the tick is infected with Lyme Disease and passes that on to you, you have to act fast, especially if you see the telltale bullseye rash on your body.
"It's the most characteristic thing, so about 80% of people who have Lyme disease get that rash, so it's not always the case," Rhame said. "Sometimes people just feel crummy, have lymph node swelling and have achiness in their joints."
Myriam Trépanier grew up in a colder climate in Quebec, Canada and was not as familiar with Deer Ticks carrying Lyme Disease. She found out too late.
"I think I was infected about 10 months ago, in the summer of 2023 while I was camping in the boundary waters," Trépanier said. "I never saw the traditional bullseye tick mark ever on me. I actually had no idea I was infected up until January 2024, that's when my joints, particularly my knee, started to get really sore and swollen for no reason."
Trépanier is a former D1 women's hockey player and Crashed Ice all-star. She was typically active but found herself suddenly sidelined.
"Some people might get completely paralyzed on their face for months on end and others it's more neurological," Trépanier said. "They will have memory loss, or extreme fatigue. Other people more people in late stage how it often shows itself is through Lyme Arthritis which is what is affecting me which is sudden, very painful joint swelling and unable to walk. I have had to use crutches three times because I was unable to walk since January so its pretty debilitating."
Trépanier, still having to use crutches on occasion, now has to inject herself with antibiotics through an IV at home with weekly doctor visits. She is hoping to see improvements after a month.
"Don't be scared to play outdoors but just be aware that this is something that can happen to you," Trépanier said. "I definitely didn't think it could happen to me but it did and its pretty painful and debilitating."
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