Remember to do a tick check!

With spring upon us and people enjoying the outdoors, Public Health Sudbury & Districts reminds you to protect yourself and your family against tick bites.

Blacklegged ticks, commonly called deer ticks, have been found in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts. Infected blacklegged ticks can spread Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. “People enjoying the outdoors need to 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 Ashley DeRocchis, an environmental support officer with Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

In addition to doing a tick check, to prevent tick bites:

• Wear light-coloured clothing, so it’s easier to spot ticks.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants ideally tucked into your socks, closed-toed shoes, or any special clothing designed to repel ticks.
• Use insect repellents that are approved by Health Canada and follow the application recommendations on the package.
• Take a shower after outdoor activities to help wash off ticks that have not yet attached themselves to the skin.
• Put your clothes on high heat in a dryer for at least 10 minutes before washing them, after spending time outdoors.

If you find a tick on a human, follow these steps to remove it as soon as possible:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick close to the skin and gently pull straight up.
• Wash the area with soap and water and then disinfect your skin and hands with rubbing alcohol or an iodine swab.
• Put the tick in a dry container and bring it to Public Health to be sent for identification. You can also submit a photo of the tick to etick.ca for identification.

Symptoms of Lyme disease can include fever, headache, chills, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and an expanding circular rash that resembles a bullseye. If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause serious complications to the heart, joints, and nervous system. If you develop any of these symptoms, follow up with your health care provider or pharmacist to determine if you need treatment.

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 www.phsd.ca.