Below is a letter from the Door County Heath department regarding concerns from Clark Lake Swimmers with swimmers itch.

Dear Clark Lake Advancement Association Directors,

 

We have received some complaints of swimmer’s itch in children after swimming recently in the lake at the public beach.

 

Door County Public Health monitors the beach water for presence of coliform (marker bacteria) and E.coli.

High levels of these would be an indication that  it is  more likely for contaminates such as swimmer’s itch to be present,  but

there is no capability to monitor for the presence of the parasite which causes swimmer’s itch.

There is also no way to ‘treat’ or fix the problem of swimmer’s itch parasite in the water.

As you may know, sometimes the parasite is present just in the spring, or it can be present all season.

 

Go here for facts about swimmer’s itch: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p4/p42094.pdf

Among other things, it mentions that if you towel off when exiting the water it can prevent the rash.

 

We would appreciate it if you would make others in your association aware of the possibility of the swimmer’s itch parasite being present in the water.

We are in the process of formulating educational messaging for the general public.

 

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me with any concerns about this,

Sincerely,

 

Sue

 

Sue Powers, RN, BSN

Health Officer/Manager

 

Public Health Division

Door County Department of Health and Human Services

 

421 Nebraska Street

Sturgeon Bay WI 54235

 

Phone 920-746-2361

Fax 920-746-2320