New human infection of Lyme disease

A local resident has tested positive for Lyme disease. This is the first locally-acquired human case reported to Public Health Sudbury & Districts this year. Lyme disease occurs when a person is bit by a tick carrying the Lyme disease bacterium. In Ontario, the blacklegged tick is known to transmit Lyme disease; however, not all blacklegged ticks carry the Lyme disease bacterium.

“Public Health reminds everyone of the importance of taking precautions to protect themselves and those in their care. When enjoying the outdoors, check for ticks immediately after activities like gardening or hiking. This is one of the simplest ways you can protect yourself from Lyme disease,” said Jonathan Groulx, a manager with Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ Health Protection Division. “Other precautions to take when outdoors include avoiding tall and overgrown vegetation, wearing long sleeved clothing that minimizes unexposed skin, and using insect repellants that contain DEET or icaridin.”

If detected early, Lyme disease can be easily treated with antibiotics. Later stages of disease may require more aggressive therapy. The most common symptoms of Lyme disease are flu-like symptoms such as headache, chills, pains in the joints, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, fever, aching muscles, stiff neck, sore throat, and vomiting. However, in about two thirds of people, a skin rash occurs at the location of the tick bite within 3 to 30 days. The rash often appears as a bull’s eye that slowly expands outwards from the site of the bite over several days. Later stages of Lyme disease can involve arthritic, cardiac, and neurological complications. These symptoms can occur weeks, months, or even years after the initial symptoms have disappeared.

Anyone who has been bitten by a tick and develops the above-mentioned symptoms should contact their primary health care provider.

To prevent tick bites

• Keep wood piles and bird feeders away from homes.
• Avoid walking in tall grass and make sure yards are kept clear of debris and overgrown vegetation, grass, bushes, and trees.
• Wear a long-sleeved, light-coloured shirt, pants, and closed-toe shoes; tuck pants into sock to prevent bites near the ankles.
• Use insect repellents that are federally regulated and contain DEET or icaridin, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for their safe use.
• Check your clothing, body, and pets for ticks and change your clothing upon returning home from the outdoors.
• Take a shower after outdoor activities to help wash off ticks that have not yet attached themselves to the skin.

If a tick is found embedded in the skin, it is important that you don’t crush or damage the tick. If you find a tick attached:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick close to the skin and gently pull straight up.
• Wash the area with soap and water.
• If found on a human, you can
  • Put the tick in a dry container and bring it to Public Health to determine if it is a black legged specie of tick versus a specie of tick that cannot carry Lyme disease. Or,
  • Submit a photo of the tick to etick.ca to determine which specie of tick it is.

For more information on Lyme disease and ticks, call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 464 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200) or visit phsd.ca.