Northwest Iowa (Radio Iowa)– The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says swimmer’s itch is starting to show up in some Northwest Iowa lakes.

Environmental specialist Daniel Kendall says the flatworm cannot survive in humas so it dies quickly leading to an allergic reaction resulting in welts and itching. He adds the parasite eggs are spread through bird droppings that hatch in the water and infect snails.

Kendall does not specify which lakes the annual reports have come from but notes swimmer’s itch could be picked up in just about any body of water in the state and the best way to avoid it is to wash and towel off really well after getting out of the water.