Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health are reminding Ontarians to protect themselves from tick bites while enjoying or working outdoors this summer.
Lyme disease can be serious. If not identified early, infection can lead to recurring arthritis, neurological problems, numbness, and paralysis. Lyme disease is spread to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick.
“As a public health physician, I know that Lyme disease is a serious issue," said Hoskins.
"Whether it’s hiking, camping, golfing, working or any other outside activity it is important that Ontarians take these simple steps to protect themselves from tick bites this summer.”
Tick populations are established in known risk areas throughout the province. In addition, multiple factors are allowing ticks to potentially establish populations in new areas throughout the province.
These factors include climate change, warmer winter temperatures and ticks’ ability to "hitch-hike" on suitable hosts, like birds or deer. Ticks live near the ground in woodlands, tall grasses and bushes, and thrive in moist environments, like those found underneath old leaves on the forest floor.
The best way to prevent tick bites include:
• Wearing closed-toe shoes, long-sleeved shirts and pants
• Pulling your socks over your pant legs to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs
• Wearing light-coloured clothing to spot ticks more easily
• Using insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin on clothing as well as on exposed skin, following the product instructions carefully
• Showering or bathing within two hours of being outdoors to remove ticks that can be on your skin but not yet attached
• Doing a daily full body check for ticks. Young blacklegged ticks can be as small as a poppy seed, so look carefully. Check children and pets for ticks as well.
• Placing outdoor clothing through the dryer cycle for 60 minutes on high heat before washing to kill any ticks that may be hard to see.
If you or a family member are experiencing serious symptoms and health effects, or have concerns about any symptoms, please contact your health care provider.
