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Ticks

Parasite castor bean, black-legged or deer tick on a human skin detail. Ixodes. Parasitic insect mite - bacterial or viral pathogens carrier. Lyme disease or tick-borne encephalitis transmission danger.

Northwestern Health Unit offers advice on ticks

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The presence of warmer weather is also bringing out the ticks.

Northwestern Ontario is home to two species: wood and blacklegged or deer ticks.

Deer ticks are well established in our region and are expanding because of warmer temperatures, migratory birds’ movement and changes in the landscape.

They can transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus to humans.

“Preventing blacklegged tick bites is an important step in reducing the risk of tick-borne diseases,” states Stephanie Charles, Health Promoter, in a release.

“A quick tick check can make a real difference.”

The health unit recommends wearing light-coloured clothing to make ticks easier to spot.

When going outside, especially in tall grass and wooded areas, wear closed-toed shoes, long sleeves, and long pants tucked into the socks and use an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin.

Be sure to check yourself, your children, and pets for ticks after spending time outdoors and shower as soon as possible after outdoor activities to wash off unattached ticks.

If you find a tick, use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it straight out gently, but firmly.

Do not twist, jerk, or squeeze the tick.

Wash the bite area with soap and water, and disinfect the skin and your hands with rubbing alcohol or an iodine swab.

The health unit does not recommend using petroleum jelly, nail polish, liquid soap, kerosene, or a lit match to remove a tick.

Symptoms of tick-borne diseases may include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, or a rash.

If symptoms develop or you have health concerns following a tick bite, contact a health care provider as soon as possible.

A pharmacist can also recommend a preventive treatment for Lyme disease.

The health unit no longer accepts ticks from the public for testing.

Residents can submit a photo of a tick to eTick.ca for species identification.

jasontetro-1

Tick Season Has Arrived In Northwest

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This is the start of tick season in northwestern Ontario.

Jason Tetro is a microbiologist and says “if you happen to be Dryden or north, while the risk is there for ticks, it’s far less than if you are in Kenora or the Rainy River area.”

Tetro says if you are going into the bush you should wear a long sleeve shirt and pants and use insect repellant with DEET.

“About 25% is something that you would be looking for. That gives you not only the protection but also gives you that sort of long-lasting that you need when you are out and about. In Canada, brands like OFF, they have what’s called ‘Deep Woods Tick’, 25% DEET and that does the job.”

Tetro says migratory birds have a lot to do with the spread of black-legged ticks, which leads to the increase in cases of Lyme disease.

Tetro notes they are finding that ticks aren’t just limited to tall grass and the bush, but back yards as well.

He is also recommending that you check your pets for ticks.

“As much as we love our pets. We can also take advantage of them as being our early warning system so that we can become even more prepared because we know that the threat is there.”

To hear more from Jason Tetro, visit the Audio link below.