The McDonough County Health Department (MCHD) conducts annual tick surveillance through a grant program provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The McDonough County Health Department conducts tick drags throughout McDonough County to collect ticks for identification by IDPH entomologists and pathogen testing by Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
• 6 adult ticks were collected on 10/16/2025 and identified as Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged) ticks. 3 of 6 ticks tested positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, the primary bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
• 3 adult ticks were collected on 11/3/2025 and identified as Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged) ticks. 1 of 3 ticks tested positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, the primary bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Additional tick drags have been conducted in 2026 with ticks submitted to IDPH for identification and subsequent submission to CDC for pathogen testing. Those results are not yet available.
McDonough County Health Department urges residents to be careful to protect themselves from tick bites. Ticks can transmit a number of diseases through a bite, so people should be diligent about using personal prevention measures and insect repellent when outdoors in areas where ticks may be present. The best way to protect against tickborne diseases is to avoid tick bites by taking the following precautions:
• Wear white or light-colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants so the tiny ticks are easier to see. Tuck long pants into your socks and boots. Wear a head covering or hat for added protection.
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET (30 percent or less) to exposed skin (except the face). Be sure to wash treated skin after coming indoors. Follow label directions. (Always supervise children in the use of repellents.)
• Ticks are usually found in ankle- to shin-high grass and weeds. Walk in the center of trails so weeds do not brush against you. Keep your grass mowed and keep weeds cut around your home.
• “Tick Checks” are an important method of preventing tick borne diseases. In areas where ticks may be present, be sure and check every two to three hours for ticks on your bodies. Most ticks seldom attach quickly and rarely transmit tick borne disease until they have been attached for hours.
• Check your pets often for ticks; infected ticks also can transmit disease to them (check with your veterinarian about tick borne disease prevention measures). Ticks that hitch a ride on your pets but fall off in your home before they feed pose a risk to you and your family members.
• Remove ticks promptly. Do not try to burn the tick with a match or cover it with petroleum jelly. Do not use bare hands. The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it with fine-point tweezers as close to the skin as possible and gently, but firmly, pull it straight out. Do not twist or jerk the tick. If tweezers are not available, grasp the tick with a piece of cloth or whatever can be used as a barrier between your fingers and the tick. You may want to put the tick in a jar of rubbing alcohol labeled with the date and location of the bite in case you seek medical attention and your physician wishes to have the tick identified.
• Wash the bite area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water; apply an antiseptic to the bite site.
• Know the symptoms of tick borne disease and consult with your physician if you have a rash or unexplained fever with flu-like illness (without a cough) during the month following a tick bite - these can be symptoms of a tick borne disease.
More information about the presence of ticks is available on the Illinois Tickborne Disease Dashboard at: https://arcg. is/1vOT4j0 or call the McDonough County Health Department at (309) 837-9951 ext.
