Illnesses spread by ticks are common in Wisconsin.
Not all ticks spread illness, and you won’t get sick from every tick bite. However, it’s important to stay aware of ticks, the illnesses they cause, and how to prevent bites
Illnesses spread by ticks are preventable. There are many ways to prevent tick bites, including doing daily tick checks, using insect repellent, and wearing appropriate clothes when you are outdoors. Check out other tips for Tick Bite Prevention.
Resources
Resources from the Department of Health Services (DHS)
Just for you and your family
- Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention—Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis Fact Sheet, P-42045
- Babesiosis signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention—Babesiosis Fact Sheet, P-42028
- Lyme disease signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention—Lyme disease Fact Sheet, P-42070
- Educational flyer—Lyme Disease Risk in Wisconsin, P-01752 (PDF)
- Education on the risk of illnesses spread by ticks—Tickborne Diseases Risk in Wisconsin, P-01751 (PDF)
- Educational tri-fold card about ticks in Wisconsin, proper removal, and tick bite prevention—Tick Safety Guide, P-01434 (PDF)
- Fact sheet with simple steps to take—Protecting Your Family from Mosquitoes and Ticks, P-02080 (PDF)
Just for health care providers
- Lyme disease trends in Wisconsin from the DHS Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health—Lyme Disease Surveillance Brief, P-01295 (PDF)
- Preparation and response—Vectorborne Disease Toolkit, P-01109 (PDF)
Order free resources from DHS. Here’s how:
- Download our Forms / Publications Order, F-80025A. Use this form to order multiple forms and publications at once. Internet Explorer users: If you get a Windows Security popup box asking you to log in, select Cancel. The form will download without logging in.
- Complete the form by using the tab key to work through the input fields. Don’t use the return or enter key.
- Email any questions or the completed form to dhsfmorder@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Resources from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Preventing Ticks on Your Pets
- Fact sheet on tick bite prevention for hunters—It's Open Season on Ticks
- Plastic trail sign to remind hikers there are ticks in the area—Prevent Tick Bites (PDF). Order the sign from CDC Info on Demand
- Booklet with tick type description, tick distribution, illnesses, and treatments—Tickborne Diseases of the United States
- Bookmark—Prevent Lyme Disease and How to Remove a Tick (PDF). Order the bookmark from CDC Info on Demand
- Educational comic for kids—Don't Let a Tick Make You Sick
- Educational crossword for kids—Don't Let a Tick Make You Sick
Other resources
- Information and tick control tips from the National Pesticide Information Center—Ticks and Tick Bites
- A guide for homeowners, pest control operators, and public health officials to prevent illnesses spread by ticks from the state of Connecticut—The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
- Information from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Entomology Laboratory—Wisconsin Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
- Information on ticks found in the Midwest, surveillance resources, and tick biology and development from the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases—Ticks
Contact us
Questions about illnesses spread by ticks? We’re here to help.
Bureau of Communicable Diseases
Phone: 608-267-9003
Fax: 608-261-4976
Last Revised: December 19, 2022
