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:
