Public Health is advising residents of Wellington and Dufferin counties to take preventive measures to avoid being bitten by ticks.
Blacklegged ticks can be infected with bacteria that causes Lyme disease in humans. Ticks attach themselves to a person and need to actively feed for at least 24 hours to transmit Borrelia bacteria.
If you’re outdoors in wooded or brushy areas, you should protect yourself and your children from tick bites by wearing long sleeves and pants.
Light-coloured clothing is best so ticks are easier to see. Also use a Health Canada approved insect repellent with DEET or icaridin.
Blacklegged ticks are very small and not easy to see, which is why you should perform a full body check on yourself, your children and your pets after being outdoors.
If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers. Grasp the tick close to your skin and pull it straight out firmly but gently so you do not release bacteria into your body. Wash the area well with soap and water.
Typical symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headache and fatigue, although symptoms may not appear for several weeks after a bite. Some people develop a bull’s eye rash at the site of the tick bite.
“If you think you have been bitten by a tick and are concerned, contact your health care provider,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health and CEO for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
“If possible, keep the tick and submit it to Public Health for identification.”
Blacklegged ticks are established in many areas in Ontario, particularly along the north shores of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River.
However, it’s possible for ticks to travel anywhere by hitching a ride on a migratory bird.
