June 15, 2016
Watch out for ticks this season
Landscape crews working in wooded areas this season have an increased risk of contracting Lyme disease from infected blacklegged ticks. Public Health Ontario has been tracking their numbers and discovered the highest populations of ticks in eastern Ontario (Ottawa, Cornwall, Kingston) and in other concentrations along the north shores of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The risk of a bite and possible infection is highest from May to September.
Tips to avoid ticks:
If an infected tick bite goes undetected, symptoms of Lyme disease are usually visible within one to two weeks, but can show up as early at three days, or as late as one month. Symptoms include a fever, headache, muscle and joint pain and fatigue with the most visual symptom being the appearance of a red bull’s eye skin rash. However, not everyone will develop this bull’s eye rash. Medical attention should be sought out if any symptoms surface. If untreated, the initial infection can affect the heart, nervous system or joints in the body.
For links to more resources, photos and a map of Lyme disease risk areas, visit horttrades.com/ticks.
Tips to avoid ticks:
- Wear light-coloured clothing to make it easier to see ticks before they can find an exposed place to feed.
- Wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed footwear and socks and tuck your pants into your socks.
- Use a tick repellent that has DEET.
- If you are in an area known for high tick populations, examine yourself thoroughly for ticks each day and pay special attention to areas such as your groin, scalp and armpits. Ticks are very small (2-3 mm in length).
If an infected tick bite goes undetected, symptoms of Lyme disease are usually visible within one to two weeks, but can show up as early at three days, or as late as one month. Symptoms include a fever, headache, muscle and joint pain and fatigue with the most visual symptom being the appearance of a red bull’s eye skin rash. However, not everyone will develop this bull’s eye rash. Medical attention should be sought out if any symptoms surface. If untreated, the initial infection can affect the heart, nervous system or joints in the body.
For links to more resources, photos and a map of Lyme disease risk areas, visit horttrades.com/ticks.