ELYRIA, Ohio — Lorain County Public Health has issued a warning to residents about a tick species that’s causing an increase in Lyme disease in humans and pets.
Blacklegged ticks, often no bigger than a poppy seed, are a shift from dog ticks typically found in the region. Dog ticks are larger and don’t carry Lyme disease, according to the advisory.
The threat is already materializing in local infection rates. County health data reveals that while 30 residents have contracted Lyme disease between 2019 and 2024, nearly two-thirds of those cases—19 infections—occurred in 2024 alone. While some residents contracted the disease from tick bites outside Lorain County, many were from in-county bites.
Health officials in Lorain County have published a list of personal preventative measures residents can take. These include using EPA-registered bug spray containing DEET or picaridin, creating a barrier between wooded areas and your yard and maintaining areas near woods by mowing grass and raking leaves to make them less hospitable for ticks.
Lorain County Public Health actively monitors the tick population through systematic collection and identification processes called “flagging.” This surveillance helps officials track which species are present and their geographic distribution.
For residents who are uncertain about tick identification, the health department offers tick identification services. Photos can be submitted to [email protected] or residents can call 440-322-6367 for assistance. The department also monitors tick-borne diseases and provides guidance to affected individuals.
Immediate removal is crucial when a blacklegged tick is found on a human or pet. Health officials recommend using tweezers to carefully extract the tick, then monitoring for symptoms over the following weeks.
Anyone experiencing symptoms after a tick bite should seek medical attention promptly, informing healthcare providers about the recent bite, its timing and the likely location of exposure.
Residents can access additional resources, including the
Ohio Tick ID card
and tick submission information, through Lorain County Public Health’s
website and advisory materials
.
