LOWELL, Mich. (WOOD) — As the warm weather brings more people outdoors, health experts are reminding West Michiganders to take precautions against ticks and the diseases they can carry.
For Lowell resident Tim Zartman, that message is personal. Zartman spends a lot of time outside as a gardener and a dog dad. But every time he spots a tick, he’s reminded of a battle with Lyme disease that began with a single bite in 2021.
“It’s amazing that a little tiny insect like that can cause so much devastation to a human body,” Zartman said.
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According to data from the Kent County Health Department, there have been 12 reported Lyme disease cases in the county through April of this year. The five-year median through April is five cases.
“I definitely see more over the last several years than I ever have before,” Zartman said…