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County tick surveillance shows expected levels of tick-borne pathogens, staff say
Summary
St. Croix County staff reviewed results from a tick-drag surveillance sample that found levels of tick-borne illness in line with expectations for the area; staff said the county has participated in the state program for multiple years and will continue monitoring.
County staff reviewed the latest tick-drag surveillance results and reported no unusual increases in tick-borne illnesses in sampled sites.
An environmental health staff member summarized findings from Paul Laube’s drag-sampling effort, saying the ticks collected "had the expected amount of tick borne illness that they identify in this report in that sample," and that there was nothing in the report indicating higher-than-expected levels for the area.
Staff described methods at a high level: interns conducted multiple sampling visits to selected sites to reach required nymph counts for statistical significance and used sticky-plate collection tools during appropriate seasonal windows. The county’s participation in the state surveillance program is in its third year, staff said.
Board members asked about timing and sites; staff responded that sampling occurred at multiple sites and on multiple occasions last year to meet minimum sample-size requirements. The review prompted no further action at the meeting.
