Deer Ticks Spotted In Third Of Ohio, Could Spread Lyme Disease

Deer ticks are small and easy to overlook which has health officials concerned.

The deer or black-legged tick is dangerous and now have been spotted in nearly a third of Ohio.

"What we don't know if the tick is carrying Lyme disease. We know some of them do because we have done some testing, but we don't know the full risk level because we have not done enough testing," said Glen Needham of the Ohio State University.

Needham said the spread of the tick is concerning because it can be active all year.

 As 10TV reported in June, the deer tick has spread to at least 26 counties in Ohio which also spread the concern over Lyme disease.

So far, Ohio has had at least 40 human cases of Lyme disease with 5 in Franklin County. In 2011, there were 53 human cases in the state.

The fall hunting season is approaching so that number could quickly go up.

"Normally the black legged tick is not active, but when you have a lot of days where it is not freezing, it is more active. And people in Ohio don't think about ticks in the winter time," said Needham. "Especially for hunters and outdoor people that they need to be alert to this very small tick"

 This tick will appear in unexpected areas in fall and winter this year.

"This black legged tick lives in the woods, where in Ohio we think of ticks as living in a grassy area," added Needham

Health officials advise that if you find a tick on you, you should not throw it away.

Instead, save it in a plastic bag or container so that if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease, it can be tested.

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