Belmont County Tops Ohio Lyme Risk as Tick Hotspots Spread
Ohio is seeing a rising tick population across several counties, with the black‑legged deer tick, Lone Star tick, and American dog tick spreading Lyme disease and other illnesses. Belmont County reports the most Lyme disease cases in 2026, followed by Jefferson, Licking, Muskingum, and Tuscarawas counties. Outdoorsers should take precautions—wear long clothing, use DEET, stay on trails, perform full-body tick checks, and remove ticks promptly (within 24 hours) to lower infection risk.
