SUTTLE LAKE, OR -- An outbreak of Swimmers Itch has forced Sisters Multi Sport to postpone its annual “Swim Across Suttle," originally scheduled for this Sunday. Jean Nelson Dean, with the Forest Service, says visitors to Suttle Lake began experiencing Swimmers Itch about a week ago. "It’s a rash you get when you’re swimming or wading outdoors. Usually, it’s in freshwater lakes and ponds like Suttle Lake. Essentially it’s an allergic reaction to these parasites that come from the waterfowl and some animals that live near the water," she tells KBND. "Because we are not suitable hosts for those parasites, they die when they’re in our skin and become kind of itchy. It’s usually short-lived, maybe a couple days, and most over the counter prescriptions medications for itch will help in treating it." She says it has been several years since any local lakes have had documented outbreaks.
