COLUMBUS – The state is warning Ohioans to be “tick smart” this summer due to an increase in the cases of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
The diseases are caused by bites from infected ticks and cause fever and rashes but, in the case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, can result in death or the loss of limbs, paralysis or hearing loss.
Do’s and Don’ts of removing ticks:
Do
Use fine-tipped tweezers
Pull the tick away from the skin
Dispose of the live tick in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or flushing it down the toilet
Wash hands and the area of the bite
Don’t
Twist or jerk the tick
Use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish or other “folk remedy”
-Source: Ohio Dept. of Health
There were 293 Lyme disease cases and 38 Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases reported in Ohio last year.
Lyme disease cases are increasing in Ohio as the range of blacklegged tick populations continues to expand in the state and encounters with this tick occur more frequently. The number of Lyme disease cases nearly tripled between 2013 and 2018 and the number of counties where cases were reported increased from 27 in 2009 to 50 last year, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Spotted Fever cases in Ohio declined dramatically from 2013, when there were 23 cases, including one fatality, and 2014, but have increased from 12 cases in 2015 to 38 cases last year.
State officials recommend people to wear light-colored clothing, long pants, sleeves and socks when hiking and avoid tall grass, brush and leaf litter. They also recommend the use repellent on their skin, clothing and gear.
People who get sick after being bitten by a tick contact their healthcare provider, particularly if they have symptoms like a fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue or a rash, Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Amy Acton said.
Most tick-borne diseases in Ohio occur between spring and late fall since ticks are most active during warm months though the the blacklegged ticks that can transmit Lyme disease are active on all but the coldest days of days and can be encountered any time of the year when the temperature is above freezing.