This story is reported by The Columbus Dispatch, a Spectrum News partner.
With more people homebound in recent months because of the coronavirus pandemic, many have turned to the outdoors to exercise, walk pets and generally get out of the house.
But as more people partake in outdoor activities in grassy and wooded areas, health officials warn that they are at greater risk of getting bitten by ticks.
Tick-borne illnesses, especially Lyme disease, has been a growing problem in Ohio for the past decade. In 2009, there were 58 human cases of Lyme disease, but in 2018 there were a total of 293 cases, a 405% increase, according to the Ohio Department of Health records of Lyme disease.
This year, there have been 77 human cases of Lyme disease reported throughout Ohio as of July 9, with six of those occurring in Franklin County, according to data collected by the Ohio Health Department zoonotic disease program, which monitors for diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 300,000 Americans contract Lyme disease each year.
In Ohio, there are several species of ticks, but the blacklegged tick — also commonly referred to as the deer tick — is the only one that can transmit Lyme disease, said Sarah Fink, a sanitarian for Franklin County Public Health.
She said there has been an increase of deer ticks in the state, which has likely contributed to the rise in Lyme disease cases. Most had occurred in the eastern half of the state, but now has spread across Ohio.
Lyme disease symptoms can include fever, headache, fatigue and a characteristic skin rash, called a “bulls-eye” rash. If untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart and the nervous system.
If you notice a tick, experts say to remove it immediately using tweezers, by grasping as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pulling away with steady pressure. Don’t twist or jerk, this can cause the tick’s mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers.
As the number of human cases has grown, so has the number of cases in animals. Michael Henricks, a veterinarian and owner of Faithful Friends in Dublin, for example, said his veterinary clinic has seen roughly a 50% increase in the number of Lyme disease cases over the past year.
Ticks attach to hosts — whether of the human or animal variety — by extending two legs and latching on to anything that brushes by, Fink said. Once it has grabbed on, a tick will find a place to hide — such as the top of the head, armpit and even on the back of the knee — but it needs time to transmit any pathogens to its host.
“For any tick-borne illness, you’re gonna fare better if you can remove the tick quickly,” Fink said. “Especially Lyme disease, … the tick needs to be attached to you for a couple of days before it can even transmit.”
Finding a tick in order to remove it can be difficult, especially when it comes to deer ticks. Adult dog ticks are typically about a quarter-inch long, but adult deer ticks are usually only the size of a poppy seed and are often not found until days later when they have already attached, Fink said.
To help prevent being bitten, Fink suggests wearing long pants and socks, spraying yourself with insect repellent — especially one with DEET — and conducting tick checks after being outside. Henricks said there are many flea and tick medications for animals — depending on the species — and there is even a vaccine available for dogs.
Yet even with these preventative measures in place, Henricks believes the number of tick-borne illnesses will continue to grow in the future. However, he is hopeful people will be more mindful and careful to protect themselves and their pets.
“The good thing is, most of these (illnesses) are treatable, which is good news,” he said.
rkaras@dispatch.com
@RachelKaras3
To get more news and information from this partner, subscribe here.
