As we head into the long weekend, health officials are monitoring the spread of black-legged ticks that cause Lyme disease.
The tiny bugs are mostly found in wooded areas, brush and tall grass, found especially in the Kenora and the Rainy River regions.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams says you should take precautions including wearing longer pants, tucked into your socks.
Dr. Williams says you should also wear long sleeved shirts and use insect repellant’s containing DEET.
He notes if you are bitten, remove the tick by pulling straight up with tweezers, put it in a jar and contact your local Northwestern Health Unit office.
Last year, there were almost 1,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in Ontario.
Dr. Williams says if you do get bit, Lyme disease symptoms can range from very mild to severe.
