Ticks

Ticks are common in Ohio and can transmit diseases to humans and animals. While several tick species are found in the state, only a few are known to spread disease:

• American dog tick
• Blacklegged tick
• Lonestar tick

Tick activity typically increases during warmer months, but ticks can be found all year round in Ohio.

What diseases do ticks transmit?

In Ohio, the tickborne diseases of greatest public health concern include:

Anaplasmosis
Ehrlichiosis
Lyme Disease
Rocky Mountain spotted fever

If you believe you may have a tickborne disease, please seek immediate medical attention.

Preventing tick bites

To reduce the risk of tick bites, you can take the following actions:

• Use EPA-approved insect repellents as directed on the label
• Avoid heavily wooded areas and brushy areas with high grass
• Walk in the center of hiking trails
• Wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors – light colored clothing helps you to spot ticks
• Tuck pants into socks when walking through brush
• Perform tick checks after outdoor activities

To remove a tick

• Grasp the tick firmly by the head and as close to the skin as possible with tweezers
• Hold the tweezers parallel to the skin to grasp the head
• Gently pull the tick out until it releases its hold
• Wash the site of the bite with soap and water and then apply an antiseptic
• Conduct a check over the rest of your body as there may be additional ticks.
• Check the rest of your body as there may be additional ticks

Proper removal of a tick (video)

Should ticks be tested for disease?

The Ohio Department of Health does not recommend testing ticks removed from people or pests:

You may not have been infected. Even if a tick is infected and tests positive, it may not have transmitted the infection to you.

It might delay treatment. Tick test results take several days and may not be available in time to make a prompt healthcare decision.

You may have other tick bites that you don’t know about. Most people who are infected with tickborne diseases do not recall a tick bite. Therefore, if someone were to develop symptoms of tickborne disease, there would be no way to know whether the infection was from a known tick bite or another unknown tick bite. For example, if a tick is tested and the result is negative, you could still have been bitten by another infected tick, not known, and develop symptoms of tickborne disease.

Tests performed on ticks are not always perfect. All laboratory tests have the possibility of false positive or false negative results. Even with a negative result, people should still monitor themselves for the appearance of a rash, fever, and other flu-like symptoms. If any of these symptoms occur, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Some private laboratories offer tick testing, but neither our agency nor the Ohio Department of Health collect ticks from the public and test them for tickborne diseases.