The number of blacklegged ticks testing positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease has spiked in Pinery Provincial Park, says Lambton public health.
The number of blacklegged ticks testing positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease has spiked in Pinery Provincial Park, says Lambton public health.
Along with finding more ticks during surveillance last fall, the health unit found 38 per cent of ticks that were tested had the bacteria causing Lyme disease, the health unit said.
“We’ve never even been over 20 per cent before,” said Jessica Zehnal, a health protection supervisor with public health.
Besides the park, the surrounding 20 kilometres, including Lambton Shores and Port Franks, had previously been identified as a high-risk area for Lyme disease in Ontario, but health unit officials weren’t expecting this much of an increase.
In the fall, the agency conducted a “tick-dragging session” in the area and found more than 150 blacklegged ticks, Zehnal said.
“That did indicate a significant increase in the blacklegged tick population that we’re seeing there,” she said.
Typically, a white cloth is “dragged” along the edges of brush through a few kilometers of public trails where ticks have been reported.
“They usually grab hold of anything brushing by,” Zehnal said.
Lyme disease is spread through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, but not all ticks carry the bacteria and not everyone who is bitten by an infected tick develops symptoms, the agency said.
Zehnal said the agency’s intent is to encourage the public to take preventive measures to avoid Lyme disease, not to deter visits to the Pinery area.
“Thankfully, our case counts are still pretty low,” she said.
There were four positive cases last year in Lambton County and “we’ve never gone over five.”
“Not all of our local cases are from exposure to our local risk area,” Zehnal said.
Lambton public health has posted a link on its website to a map showing the high-risk areas in Ontario. They include London.
Zehnal said the agency wants the public to know what to do if they find a tick, and what they can do to prevent Lyme disease.
Lyme disease can be serious, but early detection and treatment with antibiotics can prevent serious effects, the agency said.
Common symptoms can include a red bull’s-eye rash around the site of the bite, as well as flu-like symptoms, joint pain, headache, fever and fatigue. Infection can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system if left untreated.
If someone has been in a high-risk area and finds a blacklegged tick attached to their skin, and it has been “feeding” for 24 hours or longer, or if they develop symptoms, public health suggests the person contact their health-care provider .
“The No. 1 prevention technique” is doing a daily check for any ticks attached to the skin, she said, “and just paying attention to those areas — like your scalp, your snout, your armpits — where they like to try and hide .”
A tick feeding on a person can easily go unnoticed, Zehnal said.
“Their saliva is actually made so you don’t feel pain when they bite,” she said.
Other preventive steps include sticking to trails when walking outdoors and avoiding direct contact with tall grass and other plant growth, wearing light-coloured clothing to make it easier to see ticks, and wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks and closed-toe shoes and a hat, Zehnal said.
“It just makes it more difficult for the tick to actually find skin to bite,” she said.
Adults and children ages 12 and older should apply insect repellent containing 20 to 30 per cent DEET.
Ticks are generally more active in the spring and fall.
Lambton public health’s website, lambtonpublichealth.cahas additional information about Lyme disease and how to identify blacklegged ticks.