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LISBON -- Columbiana County COVID-19 numbers continue to tally about three or four new cases per day.
Medical Services Administrator Jamie Elenz said there were 113 new Columbiana County COVID-19 cases in April, which was about the same number as in March. The county health department gave 23 new booster shots in April.
But with warmer weather arriving, the health department is turning its attention onto concerns about ticks. Deer ticks, also known as blacklegged ticks, can be carriers for Lyme Disease and Elenz said earlier in the year, the tiny tick can be even smaller than usual.
Public Information Officer Laura Fauss suggests avoiding high grass, brushy, wooded or leaf littered areas. Stay in the center of the trail while hiking. She further suggests using insect repellents for ticks on skin, avoiding the hands, eyes and mouths. Treat clothing with a product containing .5 percent permethrin and wear long pants, sleeves and socks. Tuck the pant legs into socks or boots, and shirts into pants.
Elenz suggests checking yourself and the children after coming in from being outside. If a tick is found, call the doctor. An embedded tick can cause Lyme Disease, which can cause flu-like symptoms. However, a doctor called within two days of the tick can treat the patient with antibiotics before the disease progresses into worse symptom.
However, not only do ticks place you into danger for Lyme Disease, but late last year the county had the first case of Powassan Disease. Also carried by the blacklegged tick, the Powassan Disease does not require the tick to be embedded, but the bacterial infection can be transmitted with just a bite. It can bring a variety of symptoms, including headache, fever, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties seizures and death.
Use a pair of tweezers to remove any tick found, grabbing it close to the skins' surface and without twisting or jerking, pull it out. Try not to break the mouth part off in the skin. Flush the tick down the toilet or place it in a sealed container or in alcohol. Do not crush it with your hands. After handling the tick, wash your hands and the bite area with soap and water.
The County Health Department plans to have interns working to study local tick numbers and providing information about them. One project in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control will work to map Lyme Disease cases and look for trends in the cases.
More information about ticks can be found on bookmarks and fliers available at local libraries and through the health department.