Friday, May 22, 2015
Perth District Health Unit
Prevent Tick Bites. Protect Against Lyme Disease
The warmer weather is here and people are heading outdoors to hike, bike, and go camping. “If you are enjoying the outdoors this summer, the best way to protect yourself against Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites,” says Dale Lyttle, Senior Public Health Inspector.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease (LD) is a serious disease that is spread by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Human cases have been on the rise in Ontario since 2009. Blacklegged ticks are most often found in forests and the overgrown areas between the woods and open spaces, although it is possible to be bitten outside of these areas as well.
The risk of Lyme disease is higher in areas where there are established populations of infected blacklegged ticks. In Ontario, these areas are: Long Point Provincial Park, Turkey Point Provincial Park, Rondeau Provincial Park, Point Pelee National Park, Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, Wainfleet Bog Conservation Area, and the St. Lawrence Islands National Park. If people are travelling to these areas this summer they should check for ticks regularly.
Ticks in Perth County
“Local surveillance shows that we do not have a large population of blacklegged ticks in Perth County,” explains Lyttle. Out of 28 ticks submitted to the Health Unit for identification and testing, only four were blacklegged ticks, and all of them were found on people while visiting the above endemic areas. “We still have not had a blacklegged tick submitted to us that has been found locally” says Lyttle. However, infected ticks could be brought into Perth County through migrating birds and other wild animals.
Lyme Disease Prevention
Residents who spend time outdoors are reminded to protect themselves against tick bites:
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and closed-toe shoes
- Pull your socks over your pant legs to prevent ticks crawling up your legs.
- Wear light-coloured clothing to spot ticks more easily
- Use insect repellent with DEET on clothing as well as on exposed skin. Always read and follow label directions
- Shower or bathe within two hours of being outdoors to remove ticks that can be on your skin but not yet attached
- Do a daily full-body check for ticks. Young blacklegged ticks can be as small as a poppy seed, so look carefully. Check your children and pets for ticks as well.
If you find a tick on your body:
1. Using clean tweezers, carefully grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull slowly upward, but try not to twist or crush the tick
2. Once the tick is removed, wash the area where you were bitten with soap and water or disinfect with alcohol or hand sanitizer
3. If parts of the tick’s mouth break off and remain in your skin, remove them with tweezers. If this is difficult to do, leave them alone and let the skin heal
4. If possible, save the tick in a zip-lock bag or pill bottle. Record the location and date of the bite
5. You can bring the tick into the Health Unit where it will be identified to determine what type of tick it is. If it is determined to be a blacklegged tick, it will be tested for Lyme disease.
6. If you develop symptoms of Lyme disease in the weeks after being bitten, contact your health care provider right away.
It is important to remember: if you find a tick attached to your body, removing the tick within 24-36 hours usually prevents infection.
Symptoms of Lyme disease can include one or a combination of the following:
- fatigue
- fever or chills
- headache
- spasms or weakness
- numbness or tingling
- swollen lymph nodes
- skin rash (especially one that looks like a red bull’s eye)
Additional symptoms can include:
- cognitive dysfunction (brain fog) or dizziness
- nervous system disorders
- arthritis/arthritic symptoms (muscle and joint pain)
- abnormal heartbeat
For more information:
Media Contact:
Rebecca Hill
Communications Manager
519-271-7600 ext 279
rhill@pdhu.on.ca
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