As the warm weather arrived this week, Grey Bruce Public Health is reminding residents and visitors that means the return of blacklegged ticks.
The Health Unit warns that these ticks are capable of transmitting bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause potentially serious diseases, including Lyme disease.
Ticks are primarily active in the spring and summer and Grey-Bruce is considered an Estimated Risk Area.
According to Public Health Ontario, last year about 2,330 Ontarians contracted Lyme disease, while there were 160 cases of anaplasmosis, four cases of babesiosis, and one case of Powassan Virus.
"The best way to prevent tick-borne illnesses is to avoid being bitten by a tick," said Senior Public Health Manager Andrew Barton.
Steps people are encouraged to take to prevent tick bites while outdoors include using bug spray with DEET or Icaridin, wearing closed-toe shoes and covering exposed skin, and walking on cleared paths or trails.
Once home, GBPH says it's important for people to check themselves, family members, and pets for ticks. Promptly removing any attached ticks is critical to preventing potential infection as ticks must be attached for at least 24 hours, in most cases, in order to pass on the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Other tips include wearing light-coloured clothing while outdoors, so it’s easier to spot any ticks, using a sticky lint remover before getting back into their car to remove any ticks that may have crawled onto shoes or clothing and performing full body checks upon returning home and taking a shower or bath,
For tick identification, GBPH recommends using the free online platform eTick. The Health Unit's tick webpage also contains additional information on preventing Lyme disease.