"Over the past 60 years, the number of new diseases cropping up per decade has almost quadrupled. The number of disease outbreaks each year has more than tripled since 1980."
"The U.S. is no exception."
"The country is a hot spot for tick-borne diseases. In the past 50 years, scientists have detected at least a dozen new diseases transmitted by ticks."
"While the Lenten season usually signals a break from guilty pleasures like red meat, social media or alcohol, some Downriver communities are counting their lucky stars that Muskrats don't fall on that list."
"Yes, Muskrats."
"In fact, Trinity Lutheran Church in Wyandotte still holds an annual Muskrat dinner to kick off the Lenten season. Don't worry, spaghetti is offered as an alternative. "
"The exemption for eating the semi-aquatic rodent falls under a Catholic notion dating back to the 1800s that since Muskrats live in the water, they should be viewed as fish. Hour Detroit Magazine reports the Archdiocese of Detroit said "there is a standing dispensation for Catholics Downriver" to the eat animal on Fridays, even though there is "no documentation."