Indiana health officials report death from tick-borne disease in Floyd County

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Health officials are warning residents to be vigilant after a person died from a tick-borne disease in southern Indiana.

The Indiana Department of Health said a deadly case of ehrlichiosis was reported this month in Floyd County.

The tick-borne disease is caused by bacteria. The state reported two deaths from the disease last year.

The health department is now reminding Hoosiers to protect themselves from bites as ticks become more active from early spring through late fall.

In addition to ehrlichiosis, tick bites also put people at risk of Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the state. Other diseases include Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and alpha-gal syndrome — which is a condition caused by a tick bite that can trigger an allergic reaction to red meat.

There are a number of ways to prevent tick-borne diseases, and the health department encourages Hoosiers to follow these precautions:

Know where ticks are likely to be present (close to the ground in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas)
Treat boots, clothing and outdoor gear with 0.5% permethrin (NOTE: permethrin should NOT be used on bare skin)
Use EPA-registered insect repellents with active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone
Treat your pets for ticks in consultation with a veterinarian

When coming indoors from spending time outside, you should do a thorough check of your clothing, any gear used, pets and skin. As an additional precaution, you can also put the clothes in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes, which will kill any ticks. Unattached ticks can also be removed with the help of a shower.

If a tick is attached to the skin, it can be safely removed using a pair of tweezers to get ahold of the tick close to the skin, pulling outward with "steady and even pressure" to remove it. The area should then be washed thoroughly. Do not crush a tick with your fingernails.

If you find an attached tick and become ill, see a health care provider immediately and alert them to the exposure. The health department said most diseases can be treated with antibiotics, and complications can be prevented by getting diagnosed quickly.

For more information about preventing tick bites, click here. For a step-by-step guide on removing attached ticks, click here.

The IDOH and the Floyd County Health Department are investigating.

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