HILLSBORO, Ohio — The Highland County Health Department is urging residents to take precautions against ticks this summer, launching a “Be Tick Smart” awareness campaign as the county continues to see a rise in Lyme disease cases.
The department said in a social media post that residents heading outdoors should protect themselves, check for ticks, remove any promptly and watch for symptoms afterward.
Recommended precautions include walking in the middle of trails and avoiding wooded or brushy areas, using tick repellent, wearing long sleeves, pants and socks with clothing tucked in, and wearing light-colored clothing that makes ticks easier to spot. The department also advised pet owners to ask a veterinarian about tick protection for animals.
Symptoms of tickborne disease can include fever, headache, joint or muscle pain, fatigue and rash, the health department said. Anyone who notices those signs after finding a tick on their body should call a health care provider.
The blacklegged tick, which spreads the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, was first established in Ohio in 2010, and its range has expanded across the state since then, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The agency also tracks other tickborne illnesses in Ohio, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, spread by the American dog tick, and ehrlichiosis and alpha-gal syndrome, both linked to the lone star tick.
Highland County has recorded a sharp increase in Lyme disease cases over the past several years, climbing from single digits for most of the 2010s to 19 cases in 2022 and 2023, 20 in 2024 and a decade-high 35 in 2025, according to county figures reported by the health department.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Highland County Health Department.
