Deer Tick Season Arrives Early

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It looks like the deer tick season has arrived early this year -- along with the diseases it causes.

More than 15,000 cases of tick-borne diseases have been reported in Minnesota over the past 25 years, the majority in June, July and August.

Dr. David Hilden of Hennepin County Medical Center is already seeing cases.

"If you get fevers, aches and really bad fatigue after you've been out fishing or in the woods -- that could be one of these tick-borne diseases. I've seen several cases already this year and it's only May," said Hilden.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Steve Murhy Reports

Many of the illnesses are cases of Lyme disease but ticks can also cause other sicknesses such as Human Anaplasmosis.

Such diseases are treatable with antibiotics. Exposure to the ticks can be limited by wearing long pants when hiking and using insect repellents with the ingredient DEET.