*Attached video: Tick trouble: How to stay safe as Lyme disease cases rise
DOVER, Ohio (WJW) – Tuscarawas County is expected to see an increase in Lyme disease cases in 2024.
According to a press release from the Tuscarawas County Health Department, the county saw a 68% increase in reported Lyme disease cases between May 1 and June 30.
Teenager convicted of Parma pet store theft
According to the health department, 74 suspected cases of Lyme disease have been reported so far in 2024. In 2023, the number of suspected cases reported during the same period was 44.
The health department is also investigating 31 additional suspected cases as of July 10, according to TCHD.
“For the second year in a row, Tuscarawas County has seen a steady increase in reported cases of Lyme disease,” said Valerie Wallace, infectious disease nurse for the Tuscarawas County Health Department. “We also know that the actual number of Lyme disease cases is likely higher due to under-reporting. We encourage county residents to take precautions to prevent Lyme disease and seek treatment early if they experience symptoms.”
Cases of Lyme disease in dogs are also on the rise, with 449 cases reported as of July 9, 2024, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council.
Tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease are transmitted to people and pets through the bite of an infected tick, according to the health department.
Woman killed in officer-involved shooting at Medina County Sheriff’s Office
According to TCHD, here are some facts about tick bites:
The longer a tick is attached to a person or animal, the more likely it is to transmit bacteria and disease. It takes about 36-48 hours for a tick to transmit the Lyme disease bacteria. Ticks can attach to any part of the body, but especially to parts that are hard to see.
According to TCHD, symptoms of Lyme disease include:
Erythema migrans skin rash: A reddish purple rash that may take on a “bull’s eye” shape. Fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes. Late stage Lyme disease: Severe headache and stiff neck, arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, irregular heartbeat, inflammation of the brain or spinal cord.
“If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, it’s very important that you see a health care provider immediately and receive appropriate treatment,” Wallace said.
To prevent tick bites, it’s important to take precautions such as avoiding thick wooded and shrub areas, wearing long pants tucked into long socks, using insect repellent, staying on well-traveled and well-open roads, wearing long sleeves and checking your skin after being outdoors, the health department said.
A speeding car crashed into a home in Bellaire.
If you are bitten by a tick, to remove it, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, TCHD says. To dispose of the tick, place it in an inconspicuous container, wrap it in tape, or flush it down the toilet.
“Never crush the tick with your fingers,” the statement reads.
Click here for more information on Lyme disease.
