MOUNT VERNON — The number of reported Lyme Disease cases in the city climbed 57 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, according to Knox County Health Commissioner Zach Green.
In 2025, Knox Public Health recorded 195 cases, up from 124 in 2024.
“Unfortunately, as I always say, those numbers are going to continue to climb as we continue to educate individuals to be aware of and, hopefully, do our best to be able to get mitigating efforts,” Green told city council members on Monday.
“That includes doing some regimen of doxycycline so it doesn’t become a chronic issue.”
Green said Knox Public Health will continue to work with veterinarians as well as state agencies because it is important to understand how the disease affects the canine population.
There is currently no mitigation plan to reduce the incidence of Lyme Disease.
“Obviously we’d like to see eventually, sooner rather than later, vaccine opportunities like we have for canines,” he said. “We do not have that. We know more about black-legged deer ticks and Lyme disease in animals than we do in humans at this point.”
The frigid weather across the area over the past few weeks has not helped reduce the number of ticks.
“The insulation of the snow, unfortunately, does give them some cover,” Green said. “It may not be as active, but to actually lessen the population base, you’re not going to see a major reduction because of this [weather].”
Councilman Tyler Jacklin noted the city’s large deer population, particularly in his 3rd Ward.
“We are trying to mitigate that with the deer management harvesting,” Mayor Matt Starr said. “Herd control is extremely important.”
Education is key
Green said the most significant thing right now is education.
Education includes not only the symptoms and the need to self-check for ticks, but also the realization that you do not have to be in a wooded area to pick up a tick.
“When you look at central Ohio, and as this vector continues to migrate west, it’s important to realize that our numbers in Knox County are significantly higher than surrounding counties,” Green said.
However, he said it is not because there are more ticks in the county. Instead, it reflects awareness and provider education that leads to better reporting and more people being tested.
The Community Health Center offers testing; patient costs vary based on insurance coverage or self-pay status.
Green said the health center accepts Medicaid, Medicare, uninsured, and under-insured individuals.
However, he said the number of Medicaid individuals has declined and noted that Medicaid faces deficits and budget cuts at both the federal and state levels.
“I’m fearful that some of those individuals potentially were impacted with the Medicaid unwinding,” he said. “If you know of individuals that maybe are no longer on Medicaid but could potentially qualify, or just need primary care in general, that’s what we’re here for.”
The center’s patient care navigators can help individuals enroll or re-enroll with Medicare or Medicaid. They can also set up individuals with primary care providers.
“The last thing we want to do is see chronic issues become abundantly an issue outside of the world of prevention. So instead of flooding our hospital systems — and healthcare premiums, as you’re all fully aware, are extremely high — we do our best to treat those individuals before it becomes a chronic issue.”
RSV and influenza A peaked in December
Green said RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) cases peaked around Dec. 9 and influenza A peaked Dec. 23, according to wastewater treatment samples.
Influenza B started to rise in the third week of January but has not fully peaked. However, hospitalizations have declined.
Green said influenza B typically peaks around the last week of February.
“There are years that influenza B does not fully peak, so we’ll continue to monitor that,” he said. “All those — RSV, influenza A, and influenza B — are staying right around to low to moderate range.”
Relating to personnel, Green said that Anthony Bowersock, project director for the Community Health Center, will become the deputy health commissioner.
“We’re creating some succession, which is highly important,” Green said.
Patient service representative Darlene Butts retired in December after 20 years of service. Judy Miller, RN, will retire in March after 21 years.