Mary Alice Reporting –
Cases of Lyme disease for Tuscarawas County are on the rise, according to the Tuscarawas County Health Department.
There has been a 25% increase from April through the end of May 2023, with 10 suspected Lyme cases among county residents compared to eight the same time period the previous year.
As of June 15th, TCHD staff are investigating another 15 suspected cases.
Not only are people cases rising, the positive tests for county dogs, who are tested, is also higher at 363 cases, as of June 8th, compared to a total of 618 Lyme disease cases in all of 2022.
Tickborne diseases, like Lyme disease, are illnesses that can spread to people or pets through the bite of an infected tick. The longer the tick is attached to the person or animal, the greater the chance it will pass on any disease germs it may have. In general, it takes approximately 36 to 48 hours before the tick can transmit Lyme disease bacteria.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease may include a characteristic skin rash (a reddish-purplish rash that may also represent a “bullseye”), fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and/or swollen lymph nodes. Late-stage Lyme disease can produce symptoms such as severe headaches and neck stiffness, arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, irregular heartbeat, and inflammation of the brain or spinal cord.
The Health Department stresses the need to take precautions by using insect repellent, walking on clear and well-traveled paths, and avoiding wooded or bushy areas.
More details about Lyme disease and safety recommendations can be found at www.tchdnow.org.
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