Freshwater & Swimmers Itch by Ron Reimink
     Swimmer’s itch  is a rash that can occur after you go swimming or wadding outdoors. It is most common in freshwater lakes and ponds.
     Ron explained that simmer’s itch is a growing problem in northern Michigan. It’s like having a mosquito bite for 10 days.  Swimmers often blame the ducks for causing this, but it is a very specific duck called a Merganza. But ducks are the only culprit. There is a certain type of snail that also helps spread swimmer’s itch.  The snails are actually how humans end up getting swimmer’s itch. It happens when they’re exposed to microspcopic larva from snails. The snails however are getting infected from the Merganza duck’s feces. It’s a matter of breaking cycles. Each year the snails lay new eggs and each year the ducks infect new snails. Ron felt the best solution is to move the ducks to other areas that dona’t have snails so they can’t continue the parasite cycle.
     How do you prevent swimmer’s itch? Stay out of deep water, towel off , get your wet bathing suit off as soon as you get out of the water.