Public Health

Mental Health Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World.”

Being able to maintain good mental health is essential to every individual’s overall health and well-being. In a world that is constantly changing, it can be overwhelming to navigate the different challenges and obstacles around us.  While society is getting more comfortable talking about mental health, it can still be hard to know “Where to Start” when pressures of work, school, relationships, and societal factors are impacting your daily life — what do you do when you think you might be experiencing signs and symptoms of a mental health condition?

Everyday tips to help you care for your mental health:

1. Practice self-care. Healthy eating, exercise, get enough sleep.
2. Limit screen time. Disconnect from electronics and social media.
3. Do meaningful activities. Engage in things that make you happy, like cooking, drawing, volunteering, or caring for a pet.
4. Practice meditation and mindfulness. Relaxation exercises can improve your state of mind and make you feel calmer.
5. Avoid substance use. Keep alcohol to a minimum and avoid other drugs. Don’t “self-medicate”.
6. See a mental health professional. Seeing help is not a sign of weakness and it’s proven that treatment is effective.  Mental health conditions are common, manageable, and treatable. 

If you have — or think you might have — a mental illness, the first thing you must know is that you are not alone. Mental health conditions are far more common than you think.  Research shows that talking and making connections with people is one of the best ways to reduce stigma.

For more information on Mental Health Awareness month, visit: https://www.mhanational.org/

Illness and Injury Prevention in the NorthwoodsCommon Tickborne Illnesses

1. Lyme Disease
Symptoms include a bulls-eye rash, fever, headache, chills, muscle pain and joint pain. The bulls-eye rash, one of the earliest symptoms, typically appears between 3 and 30 days after the tick bite. Not everyone with Lyme disease develops the rash.

• Lyme Disease | Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• Lyme Disease | Lyme Disease | CDC
• Lyme Disease Fact Sheet
• Lyme Disease Fact Sheet Spanish

2. Human Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis
Symptoms include a sudden onset of a high fever (102 degrees or more), chills, severe headache and muscle aches. These symptoms appear between 1 and 3 weeks after an infectious tick bite. However, not all people have symptoms.

Although people of all ages can get anaplasmosis, it is most severe in the elderly.  If left untreated, it can result in organ failure and death.

• Ehrlichiosis in Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• Ehrlichiosis home | Ehrlichiosis | CDC
• Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis Fact Sheet
• Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis Fact Sheet Spanish

3. Babesiosis
Symptoms include high fever, muscle aches, being tired, headache and loss of appetite. Symptoms usually appear between 1 and 6 weeks after a deer tick bite but may take longer in some individuals. Most people infected with the babesiosis parasite will have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. People who are immune compromised may develop severe illness. Babesiosis can be fatal.

• Babesiosis | Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• CDC - Babesiosis
• Babesiosis Fact Sheet
• Babesiosis Fact Sheet Spanish

4. Powassan (POWV) Virus
Symptoms include a sudden fever, muscle weakness, confusion, headache, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck. Severe illness can include confusion, paralysis, speech difficulties, memory loss, and meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain and meninges).  These symptoms usually appear between 7 and 14 days but can go up to 34 days, after being bit by an infectious tick. 

People who are infected with POWV may have a variety of symptoms, from mild illnesses to life-threatening complications; some people may not have any symptoms.

• Powassan Virus | Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• Powassan Virus | Powassan | CDC
• Powassan Fact Sheet 

Steps to Protect Yourself from Tick Diseases:

1. Know when you’re in a tick habitat—brushy, wooded areas—where you will need to take precautions.
2. Use a good tick repellent, such as a product containing permethrin or DEET, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Wear clothes that will help to shield you from ticks. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants are best. Tuck your pants into the top of your socks or boots to create a “tick barrier.”
4. Check frequently for ticks and remove them promptly.  This is an important step in preventing disease.  
5. Remove the tick slowly and gently using a pair of tweezers. Folk remedies like Vaseline, nail polish remover, or matches are not safe or effective methods of tick removal.

If you develop signs or symptoms of a tick-related illness after spending time in areas where ticks are found, you should seek medical attention right away.

Not all ticks spread illness or carry the organisms that cause disease and not every person who is infected with these organisms will develop symptoms.

Useful Resources:

• How to Remove a Tick
• WI Tick Safety Guide
• WI Tick Safety Guide Spanish

Blastomycosis is caused by a fungus that can cause disease in people and animals, particularly dogs.  The fungus grows in nature and is typically found in:
•    Acidic, sandy soils;
•    Decaying wood and other plants; and
•    By waterways with changing water levels. 

It produces microscopic spores under certain conditions of temperature and humidity, typically in the spring and fall of the year.  These spores become airborne when the soil or debris becomes disturbed.  Blastomycosis develops when you breathe in the spores.  Symptoms, however, do not typically occur until 1 - 3 months later.  Blastomycosis is not known to spread from person to person.

Although anyone can be infected with Blastomycosis, the chance of getting this infection is low.  Your chance of getting Blastomycosis may be higher if you are in construction, farm, log, hunt, or camp in areas with moist soils containing rotting leaves and wood.



As there are currently no effective ways to prevent Blastomycosis, it is important to know the symptoms of the disease:
•    Fever and dry cough which may progress to weight loss, 
•    chest pain and 
•    persistent cough with thick sputum. 

Other symptoms may include:
•    Fever
•    Muscle aches or joint pain,
•    Night sweats,
•    Coughing (with or without blood),
•    Weight loss,
•    Shortness of breath and
•    Chest tightness.

Blastomycosis symptoms look like pneumonia and other lung conditions, but it can affect other parts of the body, including skin and bone. Some people may not have any symptoms. Those with underlying health conditions have a higher chance of severe symptoms. Examples of underlying conditions are the following:
•    Weak immune system
•    Asthma
•    Other chronic lung conditions such as COPD or emphysema
•    Smokers
•    Diabetes
•    Older adults

Please contact your health care provider if you experience any of the symptoms listed above. 

Blastomycosis Fact Sheet
Blastomycosis Fact Sheet - Spanish

Water Lab and Water Awareness

We use groundwater every day and life as we know it would be impossible without it.  Groundwater is the world's most sought-after natural resource, and it supports our entire ecosystem. Groundwater is water found in cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock underground. Approximately 70% of Wisconsin uses groundwater for drinking. 

The Vilas County Public Health Department would like to remind well owners to test their water every year to prevent illness caused by bad water.  Special water sampling bottles must be used for water testing and are ready for pick-up at the Vilas County Public Health Department, Monday-Friday 8am-4pm.  Water samples should be taken the same day as they are brought in for testing and can be dropped off at the Health Department, on Tuesdays only from 8am-12pm.

Vilas County offers the following water tests:

• Bacteria: $25.00
• Nitrates: $25.00 (For rush results an additional $25.00)
• Arsenic: $25.00 (For rush results an additional $25.00)
• Lead: $35.00 (For rush results an additional $35.00)
• Cumulative Only: $15.00
• Other metals: $35.00 (For rush results an additional $35.00)
• Homeowner Kit (Bacteria, Nitrates, Arsenic, Hardness, pH, Iron, Alkalinity and Chlorine): $80.00 (For rush results an additional $50.00)

***Nitrate tests can take up to 3-4 weeks for results. 

Payment for all water tests needs to be either cash or check and is expected at sample drop off.  Please make all checks out to Vilas County Public Health Department or VCPHD.

For more information, questions or concerns, contact Graydon Skok at 715-479-3786 or skokg@uwosh.edu.

Power Outages

A power outage is when the electrical power goes out unexpectedly.  A power outage may:

• Disrupt communications, water, and transportation.
• Close retail businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, ATMs, banks, and other services.
• Cause food to spoil and water contamination.
• Prevent use of medical devices.

• Keep freezers and refrigerators closed.
• Use a generator, but ONLY outdoors and away from windows.
• Do not use a gas stove or oven to heat your home.
• Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges.
• Have alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices.