New tests have revealed that deer tick collected from Southwold Township, Canada have tested positive for the agent that causes Lyme Disease.
The reports were obtained by Elgin St. Thomas Public Health and according to the agency, it is the first locally acquired deer tick to test positive in Elgin County for the 2015 season.
For those who are not yet aware of Lyme disease, it is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, also known as a deer tick. Once a tick is infected, it may transmit the Lyme Disease – causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi to humans through a bite.
Elgin St. Thomas Public Health conducts surveillance activities to monitor the presence of Lyme Disease in Elgin County. Ticks that have been attached to humans can be submitted to the Health Unit for identification and, if determined to be a deer tick, will be sent for further testing for the presence of the Lyme Disease.
The best way to protect yourself from Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites. Ticks are often found in areas with tall grass, marshlands and bushes where they attach themselves to people who walk by. They cannot fly or jump.
Steps to avoid bites include:
- Wearing long sleeves, pants tucked into socks, and fully-closed boots or shoes when walking in grassy or wooded areas
- Wearing light coloured clothes to make ticks easier to see
- Using a bug repellent with DEET (always read and follow the label)
- Doing a “Tick Check” after walks: shower and towel off to remove loose ticks, then check body for any ticks
If a tick is found on a person’s body, it is important to remove it as soon as possible. Transmission of Lyme Disease is unlikely to occur if the tick was attached for less than 24 hours.
If you find a tick on you, remove it carefully:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers and grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull it straight out without squeezing the tick
- Clean the bite with rubbing alcohol and/or soap and water
- Collect the tick in a screw-top bottle and call the Health Unit for advice at 519-631-9900
Symptoms of Lyme Disease typically present between 3 days to one month after being bitten by an infected tick. Early symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and an expanding rash. If left untreated, Lyme Disease Symptom can progress to cardiac symptoms including central and nervous system disorders although this is rare.
You have alot to learn….Lyme+ for this area is only the begining…in no time it will be an Epidemic like it is in most of the rest of the country.
You say….”The best way to protect yourself from Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites.” This is the dumbest of dumb…there is NO WAY to avoid tick bites, they will be missed easy by the eye, the ticks are NOT being killed or gotten rid of….so they will multiply by laying 3K to 30K eggs each time! In NY on a small road going no where….do a sheet tick drag…..it will come up with over 100 ticks….multiply that by the above eggs…..you’ve got more than the 300K that CDC says WILL be INFECTED EACH YEAR..on one small road…..where CDC’s # is supposed to be for all states..OUCH!!! So really in reality “the best way to protect yourself is NOT to go outdoors, do not have sexual relations with someone who does not know they have Lyme+Co-infections and also hope you don’t need organ/blood from donations. Other insects now carry it as well….so are we better going outside and rolling in the grass and saying “here I am come bite me”? “Let’s save the ticks” they save lives…really? Come on lets get real here folks, do you really want to be a Victim?
It gets better…if you become a Victim…..and you will soon if not later….The IDSA Guidelines are corrupt so you can forget proper treatment or tests…..hope you got lots of money cuz insurance will want nothing to do with you…..OUCH!