The Health and Wellness Center | Courtesy Allison Schuster
Diagnoses have nearly quadrupled in the last year, according to Hillsdale health officials
As reported cases of Lyme disease have nearly quadrupled in Hillsdale County in the last year, the Ambler Health and Wellness Center on campus has seen new cases for the first time in several years.
In the 2024-25 monitoring year, Hillsdale County has reported 18 cases, up from four cases in 2023-24 and five cases in 2022-2023, according to Kris Dewey, the health education and promotion supervisor for the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can manifest as a bullseye rash, fever, and muscle aches. It is contracted from a bite from an infected tick.
Despite having seen no cases of Lyme disease from 2022 to 2024, Kirsten Mapes, a staff nurse at the campus health center, said they has treated several cases over the past year.
“It is thought a tick which has been attached less than 24 hours is unlikely to transmit Lyme,” Mapes said in an email. “Thus, it is very important to check for ticks daily after outdoor activities, especially on children.”
Dewey said a possible explanation for the rise in cases across the county is the warm weather.
“Ticks normally like warmer weather. We had a warmer spring, and that allowed the tick population to present itself a little bit earlier this year,” Dewey said.
Assistant City Manager Sam Fry said the city doesn’t have any specific plans to aid with the prevention of Lyme disease.
“I would refer people to the resources that the Department of Natural Resources has, along with the state, in regards to prevention,” Fry said.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates of Lyme disease have been climbing in the last couple of years. In 2020, the rate of infection hit a historic low of 5.5 cases per 100,000 people. In 2023, the latest year data is available, that number jumped to 26.9.
Typically, CDC data shows the strongest presence of Lyme disease in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, with New York and Pennsylvania having the highest rates. However, the Midwest, particularly Minnesota and Michigan, is also a hotspot.
To prevent contracting Lyme disease, Mapes said, apply insect repellent and wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes. When returning from a tick-friendly area, make sure to check yourself for bugs.
“We recommend that you shower soon after you’ve been outdoors,” Dewey said. “Aside from allowing you to clean your skin, it allows you to conduct a full body check.”
Dewey stressed the importance of being thorough when checking for ticks, as the likelihood of infection increases the longer a tick goes unnoticed.
“Use a mirror to check body parts if you can’t necessarily see them all,” Dewey said. “Especially under your arms, in and around your ears, inside your belly button, behind your knees, between your legs, and around your waist.”
The threat doesn’t stop with humans, however. Pets, according to Dewey, can easily transmit Lyme disease to their owners.
“Make sure that you’re checking pets for ticks,” Dewey said. “Pets can also bring ticks into the home, and then those ticks will leave the pet and come to the humans in the household. It’s best to talk to your veterinarian about tick and flea prevention.”
Mapes recommends contacting a doctor at the first sign of symptoms. The earlier treatment is started, Mapes said, the easier recovery will be.
“A blood test is readily available and helps to determine if you have Lyme disease,” Mapes said. “Treatment in general consists of an appropriate antibiotic for a period of time based on what stage of Lyme disease you have. It is important to treat Lyme disease, as this can lead to more serious symptoms if left untreated.”
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