A bug expert at Iowa State University says it’s too early to predict the summer bug outlook — but be prepared, just in case.

Ticks collected from the Gunning Cove area near Shelburne have been identified as the type capable of carrying and transmitting Lyme disease.

Twelve species of ticks are known to be in Ohio. The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is the only species that can become established as a pest in homes and kennels.

Researchers have made a giant leap forward in the race to develop a vaccine for the potentially debilitating West Nile virus. Researchers have found a way to generate immune response levels comparable to a live virus vaccine, which could also help suffers of other disease such as dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.