Anecdotal evidence of extensive tick activity in the area is backed up by public health information. Ticks are moving north as the changing climate allows them to survive in the winter in our region. One might expect tick counts to be down after last winter’s snow, however snow cover, leaf and brush litter provide protection for these creatures which are active any time the temperature rises above 4 degrees C. The most significant health risk posed by ticks is Lyme disease, but only the Black-legged tick variety is a potential carrier.
Members of the arachnid family, ticks are unable to jump or fly, and thrive in wooded areas with undergrowth and leaf litter that keeps the ground damp. Brushing against bushes or long grass allows them to transfer onto passersby, who are usually oblivious to their passengers. Even when they bite, ticks often go unnoticed, in part because they tend to attach to areas of the body that are difficult to see: in the scalp, behind the ear, in armpits, the belly button, between the toes, and the genital area.
Adult ticks are typically red and dark brown in colour and very small (1 to 5 mm in length) when unfed. Young ticks, or nymphs, are lighter in colour and even are the size of a poppy seed. As ticks feed, they can grow to the size of a grape. All active stages of ticks feed on blood in order to grow and develop.
When a tick bites, the longer it has been attached, the higher the risk of infection. If it is moving freely and can be brushed off, it has not had time to pass along any pathogens in its system. If you find a tick that has attached itself to your skin, remove it quickly and carefully by the head and pull it straight out using tweezers or a tick-remover. HKPR District Health Unit Environmental Health Manager Richard Ovcharovich advises residents to avoid squeezing the tick’s body. He explains that ticks infect their hosts by regurgitating their infected stomach contents into them. If the head remains embedded, you may choose to seek medical help to have it removed. Clean the area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Don’t try to burn or smoother it with alcohol or petroleum jelly.
Residents are encouraged to upload a photo of a tick that has bitten themtowww.etick.ca, which will identify the species, whether it is one that may carry a disease and provide advice on the next steps. This website records tick activity and helps public health authorities monitor tick populations across the country. This information supplements health authorities’ direct research as they conduct physical “tick sweeps” in the spring and fall where they collect and analyse ticks collected in risk areas to update risk maps and risk advice.
To be sure a tick is free of pathogens, at a private lab in Uxbridge called Geneticks will analyse the creature for a fee, conduct tests to identify up to 15 tick-borne illnesses, and connect you to an Acute Tick Bite specialist for more support if the tests identify any pathogens.
Public health advises residents to seek medical attention if residents discover a black-legged tick that has been attached for more than 24 hours or if it is engorged, or if symptoms such as a bull’s eye rash expanding outwards from the bite, flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain and unexplained fatigue begin to develop. While difficult to diagnose Lyme disease can usually be successfully treated with antibiotics. Another illness transmitted by infected ticks is Babesiosis which is treated with anti parasitic drug.
It’s always best to prevent infection. Health authorities recommend wearing light coloured clothing which makes ticks easier to see and tucking pants into your socks to prevent ticks from crawling under clothing to the groin area. Applying insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin will deter ticks from attaching in the first place.
After being outdoors, do tick check before entering the house, paying particular attention to shoes, socks and pants, and remove clothing and put in a dryer. Ticks die in dry conditions so washing clothes is not as effective as drying them. Take a shower or bath and do a thorough tick check as soon as possible.
Growing tick populations should not deter us from spending time outdoors. The mental health boost of spending time in nature is almost immediate, and prolonged exposure is known to alleviate anxiety, depression and loneliness while boosting creativity and cognitive function.
As the tick population expands, research continues. After being bitten by a tick carrying Babesia odocoilei, a Bethany resident was invited to participate in a study examining markers of Lyme disease and other vector-borne infections at Guelph University. Until preventative treatments like the oral treatments and vaccines for dogs are developed for people, we will have to be vigilant in addressing the risks of ticks, but the benefits of spending time in nature is definitely worth the effort.