Ticks
Program Contact
Mason Leuthaeuser, MPH, REHS
Program Manager
216.201.2000 ext 1277
mleuthaeuser@ccbh.net
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 year-round in Ohio.
Preventing tick bites
Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass
Stay in the center of hiking trails
Use EPA-registered repellents (like DEET or Picaridin) on your skin.
Treat your clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin
Always check your body and shower immediately after being outdoors
How to remove a tick
Grasp
Use tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
Pull
Pull straight upward with a steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause its mouthparts to break off.
Clean
Thoroughly disinfect the bite site and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
Dispose
Submerge the live tick in rubbing alcohol, flush it down the toilet, or wrap it tightly in tape
Diseases transmitted by ticks
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.