Point Edward, ON – The arrival of warm weather means ticks are active in Lambton County and residents need to take precautions to avoid tick bites, especially blacklegged (deer) ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease.
Lambton Public Health continues to see significant increases in the proportion of blacklegged ticks submitted for identification. ‘Lyme Disease Risk Areas’ have been identified in Lambton which include Pinery Provincial Park and a 20 km radius, as well as a newly identified area in Southeastern Lambton County, which was identified through public health tick dragging efforts in Chatham-Kent and Middlesex-London. Established Risk Areas for Blacklegged Ticks are published by Public Health Ontario and are available at https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/data-and-analysis/infectious-disease/vbd-tool.
Residents are encouraged to take precautions when visiting in and around these areas and during any outdoor activities as the presence of blacklegged ticks have also been confirmed sporadically in other areas of Lambton County and throughout the province.
Blacklegged ticks are most likely to transmit infection after being attached for more than 24 hours. Prompt detection and removal of ticks, and antibiotic prescription per your medical provider’s assessment of eligibility, helps prevent Lyme disease. Symptoms of Lyme disease usually occur within one to two weeks, but can occur as soon as three days, or as long as one month after a tick bite. Common symptoms include:
- fever
- headache
- muscle and joint pains
- fatigue
- red ‘bull’s eye’ skin rash
Long-term health risks include arthritic, cardiac, and neurological complications.
Detected early, Lyme disease is easily treated with antibiotics. Lyme disease does not spread person-to-person. Anyone who is bitten by a tick that is attached for 24 hours or more, or develops these symptoms after being bitten by a tick, should seek prompt medical assessment.
Adult blacklegged ticks are tiny, slow-moving bugs, about the size of a sesame seed. Ticks typically live in wooded areas and fields and attach when a person or animal brushes against plants, bushes, or tall grass. Once attached, ticks feed on blood; most people will not feel the bite.
For protection against tick bites:
- Be aware of typical tick habitat – tall grass, bushes, and wooded areas. Stick to trails and avoid direct contact with plant growth.
- Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirt, socks, closed-toed shoes, and a hat. Tuck shirt in pants, and pants in socks. Light colours make ticks easier to spot.
- Apply an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin to clothing or skin. Follow label instructions.
- Use a tick and flea collar for pets; check pets periodically. Pets can bring ticks inside.
- After any outing, wash your clothes, have a shower, and wash your hair. Do a “tick check” on yourself, your family, and pets. Pay extra attention to scalp, groin, and armpits.
If you find a tick, use tweezers to grasp the tick’s head as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out using steady pressure. DO NOT twist, squeeze, or burn the tick. Tick can be submitted to Lambton Public Health for identification in person or online. Members of the community can also utilize the website platform etick.ca for tick identification. This website is a public platform that provides image-based identification and population monitoring of ticks in Canada.
The American dog tick is the most common tick in Lambton and is not a transmitter of Lyme disease. Dog ticks are larger in size, about the size of a pencil eraser.
For more information about ticks or Lyme disease call Lambton Public Health at 519-383-8331 ext 3812, toll free 1-800-667-1839 ext. 3812,visit www.lambtonpublichealth.ca or visit Lambton Public Health’s Climate Change Dashboard to examine VBD disease trends.
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