OHIO — The bugs are still hanging around and spreading diseases in Ohio.

Vector-borne disease cases — spread by fleas, ticks and mosquitos — rose again, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

ODH monitors diseases including West Nile Virus, La Crosse and other travel associated diseases spread by mosquitos. ODH also tracks tick-spread diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and Ehrlichiosis.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio Department of Health partnered with with local health, sanitary district partners and ODH Laboratory to moniter these diseases statewide

  • As of Sept. 12, the state reported 632 human cases of Lyme disease
  • The cases were contained to 64 counties across the state with Jefferson County reporting the most with 44 cases

  • The most common symptoms to monitor with a tick bite are fever/chills, rash, aches and pains 

ODH updates its tracking of the diseases here each Friday.

The department previoulsly reported 632 cases of Lyme disease on Sept. 12, but as of Sept. 20, there were 727 human cases. Reports came in from 65 counties. Jefferson County reporting the most with 52, followed by Licking County, 49; Tuscarawas, 46; Columbiana, 43; and Stark, 36.

Cases were closely matched with 334 being women and 393 being men.

Common symptoms of tick bites to monitor include a fever, rash, chills, aches and pains, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The best way to prevent contracting tick-related diseases is by knowing where to expect the insects and limiting exposure in those areas. Treat clothing and outdoor gear with Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent containing DEET or products containing 0.5% permethrin.

For more information on preventing tick bites, click here.

Anaplamosis and babesiosis cases remained at 11 and two cases, respectfully. RMSF cases remained at 12 and Ehrlichiosis cases remained at 16 from the Sept. 12 report.

There was an uptick in mosquito-spread West Nile Virus, from three cases on Sept. 12 to five reported in Lorain, Wyandot, Hancock, Henry and Ashtabula counties. The cases belong to one woman and four men. There remains one La Crosse case in Wayne County belonging to a 6-year-old boy.

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