COLDWATER, MI (WTVB)- The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency urges residents to take precautions against mosquito and tick bites this summer while continuing to enjoy the outdoors.
The agency says they have observed a steady increase in Lyme disease cases over the past several years. From October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022, there were six reported cases. That number jumped to 30 cases between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. So far this reporting year—from October 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025—there have been 13 confirmed cases.
In addition, the agency’s Vector Surveillance Program recently identified the Culex mosquito species in Hillsdale County. Culex mosquitoes are known carriers of West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis.
Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn, and require standing water to breed, meanwhile ticks are commonly found in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas or on animals.
Some preventative measures you can take to reduce mosquito breeding are to empty water from flowerpots, tires, pet water bowls, pool covers, buckets and clogged rain gutters. It’s also a good practice keep your grass cut, remove leaf litter and caution in wooded or overgrown areas.
After being outdoors, tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes. If washing is needed first, use hot water, they say cold or medium temperatures won’t kill ticks, they also say Showering within two hours may reduce the risk of tick-borne illness.
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