OHIO — The outdoors are still hosting plenty of creepy-crawlies bringing their own risks of disease, even with fall temperatures making an appearance.

The Ohio Department of Health provided an update on its vector-borne disease cases, ones spread by fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. In its Oct. 17 update, ODH noted a rise in West Nile Virus, Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.

What You Need To Know

  • According to the Ohio Department of Health, there are nine West Nile Virus cases in the state belonging to four females and five males

  • The human cases reside in Lucas, Henry, Auglaize, Hancock, Wyandot, Franklin, Lorain, Cuyahoga and Ashtabula counties

  • ODH also noted an increase of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread through tick bites, from 953 cases reported in a previous update to 1,002 cases

  • The top counties reporting Lyme disease cases include: Jefferson County with 73; Tuscarawas County with 69; Licking County with 66; Columbiana County with 57 and Stark County with 45

According to the department, there are nine West Nile Virus cases in the state belonging to four females and five males. Ages of those infected ranged from 48-years-old to 77-years-old. There is also one avian case and three equine cases of the disease. 

The human cases reside in Lucas, Henry, Auglaize, Hancock, Wyandot, Franklin, Lorain, Cuyahoga and Ashtabula counties. There were also three asymptomatic, viremic blood donors with West Nile Virus.

Commonly spread by mosquito bites, West Nile Virus symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

ODH also noted an increase of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread through tick bites, from 953 cases reported in a previous update to 1,002 cases. Of these, 454 cases belonged to females and 547 belonged to males. Ages of those infected ranged from 1-year-old to 89-years-old.

The top counties reporting cases include: Jefferson County with 73; Tuscarawas County with 69; Licking County with 66; Columbiana County with 57 and Stark County with 45.

According to the CDC, common symptoms of tick bites to monitor include fever, rash, chills, aches and pains. The department recommends limiting the exposure to areas with the insects reside to help prevent contracting tick-related diseases. EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET or products with 05% permethrin can also help with preventing bites.

ODH reported 15 anaplasmosis cases, an increase from the 13 previously reported. The cases belong to five females and 11 males ranging in age from 36-years-old to 88-years-old.

Other disease cases that remained unchanged from previous reporting were three cases of La Crosse; three cases of babesiosis; 13 Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases and 17 Ehrlichiosis cases, according to ODH. 

For more information on preventing tick bites, click here.

Related Stories