Sept. 19, 2004
Tregg White
A mysterious airborne bug is sweeping across the capital city. Lincoln/Lancaster County health officials aren't sure what the bug is. Even entomologists are baffled by the bug. The pattern behind the bites is a person is outside, and then the next morning they wake up with so many bites it looks like a rash. Scott Holmes who's with the Health Department says the bites are usually around the upper torso, inner arm, and neck area. Holmes says the bites are in different areas than chiggers, which normally bite around the waist area and ankles.
Lincoln resident Margaret Berry has been battling the bites for about ten days. Berry says, "You just wake up and go crazy because they itch and itch." Berry estimates that she has been bitten 30 times and the other day, one bite swelled up to three inches. The health department says the bites are red swollen areas with a pimple like center.
The health department says the bites do not pose a serious health risk. However, if you are bitten by one of these unknown bugs then you can use a antihistamine like Calamine Lotion.
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