Lyme Disease can be a serious illness that can be spread to humans by the bite of an infected tick. Ticks are hard to see black-legged bugs.
While most people have not heard of this disease, Lyme Disease is gaining attention as health officials have seen an increase in Lyme Disease cases in Ontario.
Lyme Disease is spread by the bite of deer ticks. These ticks cannot fly, but settle on tall grasses and bushes until they attach themselves to a person or animal passing by.
Lyme Disease bacteria have been found in ticks throughout Ontario, but are primarily found in the north shores of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River. They have also been found in provincial parks such as Long Point, Turkey Point, and Rondeau, as well as Point Pelee National Park, Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, St. Lawrence Islands National Park and Wainfleet Bog Conservation Area.
The key to avoid getting Lyme Disease is to prevent the ticks from biting by:
Wearing light-coloured clothing. It makes ticks easier to spot.
Wearing closed footwear and socks, a long sleeved shirt and long pants. Tuck your pants into your socks.
Using a tick repellent that has DEET, following the manufacturer's directions.
If in an area where you might get bitten by ticks, search your body for ticks at least once a day. Pay special attention to the scalp, groin and armpits.
If you do locate a tick on your body, use tweezers to remove it. Grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible. Pull it straight out, gently but firmly. Save the tick alive in a jar or screw-top bottle if you can and take it to your doctor for testing.
If you have been in an area known to contain Lyme disease carrying ticks, watch out for the following symptoms:
fever
headache
muscle and joint pains
fatigue
skin rash in the shape of a bull's eye.
If you have any of these symptoms, let your health care provider know immediately.
Lyme Disease is not transmitted from person-to-person. However, dogs and cats can carry the ticks into your home or yard, potentially placing people at risk of infection. Take precautions such as putting tick and flea collars on your pets and checking them for ticks periodically.
