The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has launched its active tick monitoring program.
The program starts on Friday. It includes the identification and testing of ticks that are collected by public health staff. Field surveillance is conducted in public parks and trails, which are often used by residents to extract local data on tick populations.
“Lyme disease is a serious disease that is spread by being bitten by infected black-legged ticks. These little creatures can be found in wooded areas such as campsites, parks, trails and even in your backyard, ”says Dr. Shanker Nesaturai, a current medical professional. “By taking simple precautions, residents can reduce their risk of tick bites.”
Some tips from WECHU:
- Avoid walking in tall grass and stay in the center of the paths.
- I’m covering. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
- Wear light-colored clothing to easily spot ticks.
- Put your pants in your socks and wear closed shoes with your toes.
- Do a thorough check on yourself, children and pets after you are outdoors.
- Take a shower within 2 hours after being outdoors.
- Put your clothes in the dryer on high heat (at least 60 minutes) to kill all possible ticks
- Put a tick collar on your pets.
- Keep the grass in your yard short.
- If you find a tick on your body, quickly remove the tick with a tick wrench or a pair of tweezers. Gently wash the bite and the surrounding area with soap and water or alcohol.
If you are concerned about the possibility of Lyme disease, please follow the steps below:
- Do not throw away ticks.
- Store it in a container or small plastic bag that can be sealed.
- Place a piece of damp paper towel in the container or bag.
- Contact your healthcare provider and discuss if further action is needed.
The health unit no longer accepts ticks for identification and testing. You can send a photo of the bookmark to etick.ca, a free online identification service.
For basic information, including statistics, visit the Health and Tick Lyme Disease website.
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