Black-legged tick – Courtesy of etick.ca
Taking a hike is good for both physical and mental health, but in that glorious outdoors lies a microscopic predator that could turn that effort into something that threatens rather than boosts your health.
In woodlands, tall grasses and hiking trails across Ontario lie black-legged ticks. On average, one in five of these creatures in Ontario carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, a potentially serious and growing health risk.
There have been a number of reports of local tick activity, in woodland areas and on the jail hill property that is a popular area for dog walks. Pharmacist Steve Suszko has had a number of inquiries from customers seeking advice for tick bites over the few weeks.
Ticks are most prevalent in the summer and fall. They can be as small as a sesame seed and even when they bite, they often remain unnoticed.
Only the Black-legged tick is a potential carrier of Lyme disease. These slow moving, non-flying parasites are closely related to spiders and mites are found across the province in numbers that are increasing every year. Adults 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 smaller in size. 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.
At the moment, many Public Health units across the country have suspended their surveillance of tick activity to focus on fighting the pandemic, but a project at Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec continues to monitor tick populations across the country. It provides a helpful resource for anyone who has found a tick on themselves or their pets and is seeking advice. The first step is to determine if the culprit is the Black-legged variety. A photograph of the insect can be uploaded directly to the tick identification website www.etick.ca. Results of the identification process will be provided within 48 hours of submission along with resources outlining symptoms and next steps.
Of course, prevention is the best defense, so experts advise dressing in long, light coloured clothing and tucking long pants into socks to reduce the chance of ticks hopping aboard. The application of an insect repellent containing DEET on clothes and exposed skin will also help keep ticks away. When hiking, stick to the middle of the trail to minimize contact with bushes and long grasses. Upon return, a clothing and body check will locate any unwanted hitchhikers, and a quick shower after being on the trails can wash away ticks that have not yet attached. The sooner ticks are found, the easier they are to remove. Using a pair of fine-tipped tweezers, ticks can be gently pulled straight out with no twisting to ensure the entire creature is removed. Wash the affected area with soap or hand sanitizer. An infected tick has to be feeding for at least 24 hours before it can effectively transmit the bacteria to a human host.
Those who are concerned that they have been bitten by a black-legged tick should contact their health care provider. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics, but left untreated, it can cause recurring arthritis, and neurological problems. For more information about ticks and Lyme disease prevention, visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca. KG
