WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – West Virginia is seeing a sharp increase in Lyme disease cases, prompting the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and Fayette County Health Department to begin offering preventive antibiotic treatment for people who may have been exposed through tick bites.
According to the West Virginia Department of Health, Lyme disease cases have climbed significantly since 2020, rising from about 1,000 reported cases that year to nearly 4,000 in 2025. State data also shows that other tick-borne diseases are increasing across the Mountain State.
“We are facing another extreme tick season. Tick bites are up nationally and in West Virginia. In fact, last year was a record year for Lyme disease in West Virginia, and we are already well past last year’s numbers at this point,” said Dr. Steven Eshenaur, health officer for both the Kanawha-Charleston and Fayette County health departments.
“It’s really difficult to go outdoors, even in your yard, and not get a tick on you, so we think it’s important to give folks the opportunity to prevent Lyme disease with a prophylactic dose of doxycycline. Lyme disease can have serious symptoms – some potentially lifelong – and is to be taken seriously.”
The health departments are now dispensing the antibiotic doxycycline to help prevent Lyme disease after certain tick bites.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a single 200-milligram dose of doxycycline can help prevent Lyme disease if it is taken within 72 hours after a Blacklegged tick has been attached. The longer the tick remains attached, the greater the risk of infection.
Patients will receive a brief office consultation before the medication is dispensed. The $25 fee covers both the consultation and the medication. The visit does not include testing or treatment for tick-borne illnesses. Walk-in patients are accepted, although appointments are recommended to reduce wait times.
“This is about prevention. The easiest disease to treat is the one you never get,” Eshenaur says about all preventable diseases. “In the case of tick diseases, the best prevention is to never get them on you in the first place. When you head outside, use a tick repellent with DEET as a main ingredient. Wear pants, long sleeves and a hat. When you are back inside, do a thorough tick check and change your clothes immediately.”
Lyme disease commonly causes headaches, muscle aches, fever and a bull’s-eye rash. If left untreated, it can lead to long-term health complications.
Residents seeking more information about Lyme disease or doxycycline can contact the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department at 304-348-8080 or the Fayette County Health Department at 304-574-1617.
