Iowans that spend time camping or hiking in the woods this summer should be cautious of a small insect that can cause big trouble. Ticks can carry Lyme Disease, which can be difficult for doctors to diagnose. The CDC says the symptoms of Lyme Disease vary from person to person.

Many patients experience fatigue, chills, a fever and muscle and joint pain. Dan Wolfe of Iowa City says he was mushroom hunting in May when a tick attached itself to his stomach. He soon developed a rash the size of a pancake and started to get worried when the symptoms intensified.

"If I coughed, my eyes…my vision would go completely black. I couldn’t see anything for a couple of seconds," Wolfe said. After four visits to the hospital over a five week period, doctors finally realized Wolfe had Lyme Disease. During that time, the disease paralyzed half of his face. "It was like Novocain had been shot in one side of my face," Wolfe said. "I couldn’t move it at all."

Wolfe is getting married in a few weeks and initially worried he wouldn’t be able to smile on his wedding day. His conditions have improved, but Wolfe says he continues to feel weak and tired. Doctors aren’t sure how long he’ll continue to feel the effects of the bite.

Johnson County Public Health Director Douglas Beardsley says ticks are typically a problem this time of year. "The weather’s warmed up and people are out in the woods tramping around. So, the exposure to ticks is greater," Beardsley said. The Iowa Department of Public Health says there were 105 confirmed cases of Lyme Disease in Iowa in 2008. Beardsley says anyone who gets a tick bite and then experiences flu-like symptoms, should see a doctor right away.

 While Iowans have kept an eye to the sky with the very active spring and early summer, many are not watching the danger that may be lurking in their own backyards. West Nile Virus is still a threat in the Midwest, and health advocate Cristee McColloch fears this year may be -worse- than last year.

She says this year’s caseload may be worse because of all the rain and standing water — which helps mosquitoes to thrive. West Nile is spread through the bite of a mosquito that has fed on an infected bird. McColloch says the very young, the elderly and those with compromised or depleted immune systems need to be especially careful as symptoms of West Nile can range from minor fatigue to death.

McCulloch says if you start getting some of the preliminary symptoms, seek medical attention. Symptoms may include a headache that hangs on for a few days or a low-grade fever that won’t go away. McColloch says the disease affects everyone differently so it’s best not to take any chances.

She says one in 150 people will get the very severe version of West Nile, which can include neurological disfunction. Another 20% will see mild symptoms that’ll last two or three weeks, while nearly 80% will have virtually no symptoms at all. She says there may be a little fatigue for two or three days, but that’s it.

Health officials recommend using insect repellent that contains the chemical DEET, but remind people that no single preventative measure is 100% effective so multiple steps should be taken.

West Nile Virus season normally peaks towards August and September, though health officials are beginning their yearly surveillance program as hot, wet conditions are expected to continue on the plains, at least for the short term.