Swimmer's Itch Breaking Out In New York, Are You At Risk?

A New York summer would not be complete without enjoying some lake life. From Lake George to the Finger Lakes and all the others in-between, it's nice to be able to swim, canoe, fish and just relax. I can't think of anything I don't like about lake life, unless you come down with swimmers itch.

Did you take a dip this year and within minutes you noticed a tingling feeling? Maybe after a few days, a burning feeling? Next thing you know you are itching and a rash breaks out and maybe even small blisters? You might just have swimmer's itch.

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in 2023 there appears to be more New York cases of swimmer's itch "breaking out" than usual. Are you at risk? Yes! According to the New York State Department of Health anyone is at risk. The good news is, it's not contagious.

District Health Department describes swimmer's itch as a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites. Let's say an infected bird poops while flying over a lake. The parasites within the fecal matter are now in the lake, pond, etc. and you come into contact with it. That parasite will burrow into the skin causing an allergic reaction and rash.

Photo by Andrew Ly on Unsplash

The CDC has these suggestions to avoid swimmer's itch;

Do not swim in areas where signs have been posted warning of unsafe water.
Do not swim near or wade in marshy areas where snails are commonly found.
Towel dry or shower immediately after leaving the water.
Do not attract birds (e.g., by feeding them) to areas where people are swimming.

If you have a case of swimmer's itch, the symptoms should go away after about one week.

Lake George Island Retreat

11 Great Little "Lake Towns" To Visit This Summer in Upstate New York

For many in Upstate New York, summertime means time spent on a lake. Here is a gallery of some of the best "lake towns" in our region. They can be big (lake George) or a town with about 600 population (Hammondsport). But all 11 are fun and the lakes are all gorgeous.

LOOK: Here are the best lake towns to live in

Many of the included towns jump out at the casual observer as popular summer-rental spots--the Ozarks' Branson, Missouri, or Arizona's Lake Havasu--it might surprise you to dive deeper into some quality-of-life offerings beyond the beach and vacation homes. You'll likely pick up some knowledge from a wide range of Americana: one of the last remaining 1950s-style drive-ins in the Midwest; a Florida town that started as a Civil War veteran retirement area; an island boasting some of the country's top public schools and wealth-earners right in the middle of a lake between Seattle and Bellevue; and even a California town containing much more than Johnny Cash's prison blues.