Gypsy-moth caterpillars causing poison-ivy like rashes in Northeast U.S.

I started a thread on Poison Ivy.. but this news is amazing.. and explains what I've been experiencing.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rhode-island/articles/2017-05-10/gypsy-moth-caterpillars-causing-rashes-on-children

My last post in the poison ivy thread mentions the infestation of caterpillars that we've seen in our region both; this Spring.. and last. If you watch the news-vid in the above link.. you'll see photos of what the rash looks like. I've had this several times in the last 4-6 weeks and thought it was poison ivy.. but was fairly sure that I had not been exposed to it. It's IDENTICAL. Red, itchy welts that make you want to scratch until they bleed.   Untreated; the rash(es) last about two weeks. Treatment is similar as for poison ivy. Topical-antihistamines to relieve the itch.. and/or going to the doctor for a steroid-shot, which clears it up rapidly.. (a few days).

The caterpillar's "hairs" are the cause of the rash. The bugs are all over the place presently, here in Northern RI. They often descend on silk-like threads from above.. so it's easy to get one on you, un-noticed; while just walking around outdoors. Resting a bare-arm on a fence-railing where the bugs have been.. can cause exposure.

Luckily.. we've had excess rain in the region. Excessive moisture creates a fungus that kills this type of caterpillar.