2025 Licking County Reportable Disease - Annual Report

The Licking County Health Department (LCHD) utilizes Clear Impact to track communicable disease cases within our county. LCHD is still collecting data and has created an internal dashboard, using Clear Impact, to track local case activity against historical data. Tracking thresholds (calculated by taking the 5-year-average plus 1 standard deviation) and case counts allow our Communicable Disease team to recognize and monitor patterns for better disease management.

• Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) exceeded threshold for the first time since 2018. Licking County experienced 22 cases of STEC in 2025 compared to 11 cases in 2024.

• A case of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) was reported in Licking County in 2025. The last case of STSS in Licking County was in 2017. 

• Licking County has reported it's 3rd ever influenza-associated pediatric death in 2025. Prior, the last influenza-associated pediatric death occurred in 2014.

• Licking County experienced a significant increase in seasonal influenza activity in early 2025 with 285 cases of influenza-associated hospitalizations compared to only 42 cases in 2024. Licking County hit its highest number of cases during week 6 of flu season (early February). 

• Lyme disease continues to stay above threshold with 249 cases in 2025, a new annual record. The last time Lyme disease was under threshold was in 2013.

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains present in Licking County and cases are actively managed and monitored by LCHD's Communicable Disease team, the designated TB Control Unit for Licking County. 

• Finally, diseases missing Current Target Values are newly reportable diseases and their threshold data is not currently available.