Kane County health officials report rising tick activity; department offers identification, prevention and free tick kits

Kane County public-health staff told the Public Health Committee Wednesday that tick activity and reports of tick-borne illness are increasing and urged residents to use preventive measures and seek prompt medical attention for symptoms.

"You should always perform tick checks every 10 to 20 minutes if you're in a tick-prone area," Julie Wiegel, assistant director of environmental health, told the committee during a presentation on tick identification and prevention. Wiegel and April Elliott, the assistant director of communicable disease, reviewed the county's local species (including the black-legged or "deer" tick, American dog tick, lone star tick, Gulf Coast tick and brown dog tick) and described common disease risks.

Elliott summarized case data and surveillance: county figures show an upward trend in Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses over recent years. Staff emphasized that symptoms can vary and that Lyme and other infections may take days to weeks to appear; practitioners rely on case definitions and lab testing for confirmation. "Lyme disease is the tick-borne illness that we see predominantly here," Elliott said, noting the department's continuing surveillance and reporting pathways.

Prevention guidance included wearing light-colored clothing to spot ticks, using EPA-registered insect repellents, treating clothing with permethrin where appropriate, staying on trails, mowing grass and removing leaf litter near homes, and performing frequent tick checks while outdoors. Staff also demonstrated a tick kit that includes removal tools and instructions; those kits are available at county offices and at outreach events.

Committee members asked about common myths and removal techniques. Staff advised against home remedies such as vaseline or heating with matches, saying removal with a proper tick key or fine tweezers is preferable. The presenters also discussed who should be contacted if a tick is found: residents can bring ticks to the health department for identification and clinicians should be told about recent exposures when symptoms appear.

The presenters urged people who develop fever, rash, flu-like symptoms or other concerning signs after a tick bite to seek medical care and tell clinicians about the exposure. The department said it will continue public outreach, social-media education and participation in statewide surveillance efforts to help map risk areas.