Harrison County seeing low respiratory illness, Lyme cases remain high

A recent news report highlighted a rise in what is being called a “tripledemic,” with flu, COVID-19 and RSV spiking in some parts of the country. The report focused on Long Island, New York, where hospitalizations reportedly surged, with flu up 30%, RSV up 35% and COVID rising as much as 15%.

But those trends are not showing up in Harrison County, according to Teresa Koniski, director of nursing for the Harrison County Health Department.

Koniski said COVID-19 activity in the county remains far lower than it was several years ago. Through November, the county reported 132 cases, although December totals were not yet available.

A University of Minnesota report dated Nov. 24 cited a CDC update showing COVID-19, seasonal influenza and RSV remaining low nationwide, though growing in some parts of the country. Koniski said Harrison County has not experienced a similar increase. Influenza hospitalizations totaled 26 through November.

The county’s reportable disease summary also showed 22 cases of chlamydia for the year. Hepatitis A, B and C remained low, with no category above five cases. Hospitalizations from COVID-19 were even lower, with just two reported through November.

February marked the county’s highest month for COVID-19 cases, with 57, up from 30 in January. Cases dropped to 18 in March. Koniski said the health department no longer receives COVID-19 test results directly because they are now reported through the state health department.

While respiratory illness trends remain relatively stable, Koniski said one concern continues to stand out: Lyme disease.

Harrison County reported 129 Lyme disease cases for the year, with spikes during the summer months of June and July before tapering off in August and September.

“Harrison County was the highest per capita in the state of Ohio,” Koniski said.

Koniski said Lyme disease has become the most significant reportable disease in the county by far and appears to be an ongoing concern.

“Unfortunately, those ticks are here and not going away anytime soon,” she said.

Koniski said not all ticks carry the bacteria, estimating about 50% do. She added that when she started her position 13 years ago, the county had no Lyme cases.

Koniski urged residents to check themselves after being in wooded areas or even returning from their yards.

The Ohio Department of Health said blacklegged ticks are most common in eastern and southeastern Ohio and noted that the number of reported cases has increased substantially compared to the 1990s.

“It is now common to see hundreds of confirmed cases each year,” the department stated.

Koniski and state health officials recommend using insect repellent, applying pesticide when appropriate and removing ticks as soon as possible after returning indoors from high-risk areas.