Insect and Animal Diseases
Enjoying the outdoors can help you stay fit and healthy, but it can also make you sick. Take steps to protect yourself and your family from these outdoor health concerns:
Avian flu
H5N1 is a subtype of influenza that is known to affect wild and domestic birds. The risk to humans, however, is very low.
For individuals who may have been exposed to this virus through their work involving direct contact with infected birds – such as poultry farmers, veterinarians, and lab workers – the risk of serious illness is low.
Person-to-person transmission of avian influenza viruses is rare.
The risk to the public of catching the H5N1 virus from domestic poultry or products is very low and there is no need to change food consumption habits or travel plans. More information on consuming poultry and eggs can be found under the Food Safety section on the Public Health Agency of Canada website.
Symptoms | ||||||||
Symptoms of avian influenza are similar to symptoms of seasonal influenza:
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Exposure and testing | ||||||||
What if an individual has been exposed to avian influenza?
Who can be tested for avian influenza?
Is there a vaccine for humans against avian influenza?
How is the spread of avian influenza being prevented?
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Poultry consumption | ||||||||
Can I get avian influenza from eating poultry or eggs?
Additional information on food safety: Get the safe food facts - Ministry of Health Food Safety - Public Health Ontario What if I hunt and cook wild birds such as wild geese and ducks? Although the risk of catching avian flu from wild birds is very low, hunters and people who prepare and cook wild birds may be at a higher risk. It is important for people who hunt and eat wild birds to take precautions to help reduce any risk:
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Reporting of sick or dead wild bird | ||||||||
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Resources | ||||||||
Avian Influenza Questions and Answers - Ministry of Health Avian Influenza - Canadian Food Inspection Agency of Canada Avian Influenza - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Avian Influenza - Ontario Ministry of Health Avian Influenza Virus - The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Canada 2021-2022 - Canadian Food Inspection Agency of Canada Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza Frequently Asked Questions – Ministry of Health Influenza (Avian and other zoonotic) - World Health Organization Information on Bird Flu - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pets and H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza - Government of Canada Wild birds and avian influenza – Handling guidelines - Public Health Agency of Canada |
Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria carried by blacklegged ticks, however, not all blacklegged ticks are infected. The disease spreads when an infected tick bites a person.
Areas of risk |
Ticks commonly live in wooded areas, tall grasses, and bushes and can be found almost anywhere in Ontario, including city gardens and parks. Blacklegged ticks spread to new areas of the province because of climate change and warmer winter temperatures. They can also spread by travelling on birds and deer. For more information about where blacklegged ticks are typically found, check the Ontario Lyme Disease Risk Areas Map 2024. While ticks are most active in spring and summer, they can be found during any time of the year when the temperature is above freezing. |
Protecting yourself |
Ticks are tiny. Before they feed they are the size of a sesame seed (3-5 millimetres). There are things you can do to protect yourself from a tick bite:
After an outdoor activity, you can:
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Removing a tick |
If you find a tick on your body, remove it immediately. Infected ticks need to be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease.
To remove a tick you should:
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Testing a tick |
The National Microbiology Lab is no longer testing blacklegged ticks for Lyme bacteria. As a result, Region of Waterloo Public Health will no longer be accepting ticks for submission. The purpose of tick identification and testing is to gather data and monitor for new and emerging tick populations in Ontario. Tick submissions are for surveillance purposes only and not intended for diagnosis of tick-borne diseases. When you find a tick attached to yourself or a family member, use the website eTick.ca to identify the tick. eTick is a public platform for image-based tick identification. There is no cost to use this platform and the website is best viewed with Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. You will receive identification results within 48 hours along with public health education and awareness messaging. If through eTick, the tick has been identified as a blacklegged (Ixodes scapularis) tick or cannot be identified, please contact your health care provider, particularly if you are feeling unwell. Speak to your health care provider about what next steps to take, if any, for your health. Tell your doctor where you were when you got the tick bite to help them assess your risk of Lyme disease.or other tick-borne diseases. The risk of infection is low if a tick was attached to your skin for less than 24 hours. Please speak to your veterinarian if you find a tick on your pet. |
Lyme disease symptoms |
Lyme disease is diagnosed through a combination of symptom presentation, history of exposure to infected ticks and/or validated laboratory test results. If you have been bitten by a tick and believe you have symptoms of Lyme disease it is important to see your doctor for medical advice. Tell them where you were when you got the tick bite to help them assess your risk of Lyme disease. The risk of infection is low if a tick was attached to your skin for less than 24 hours. Symptoms usually appear from three days to one month after being bitten by an infectious tick. Signs of infection may include:
If you develop any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention. If left untreated, more severe symptoms can develop. |
Tick-borne diseases |
Anaplasmosis Anaplasmosis is an infection caused by a bacteria spread by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. An infected tick will usually transmit the bacteria to a person when attached and feeding for at least 12 hours. Mild to moderate flu-like symptoms may appear within 1-2 weeks after exposure including:
Delayed treatment of Anaplasmosis can lead to more severe illness. Babesiosis Babesiosis is an infection caused by a parasite and spread by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. It usually takes 24 hours for an infected tick to spread Babesia when attached and feeding. Many people will not have any symptoms when infected with Babesiosis. In some cases, symptoms can range from mild to severe:
Powassan virus Powassan virus infections are spread to humans by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. It can take as little as 15 minutes for Powassan virus to be acquired from an attached tick. Most people infected with Powassan virus will have no symptoms. In some cases, symptoms can range from mild to severe:
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Additional resources |
Rabies
Rabies is a potentially fatal viral disease that attacks the nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans.
A bite from an infected animal is the most common way rabies is spread. It can also spread when infected saliva comes into contact with a scratch, open wound or your mouth, nose or eyes.
Animal bites |
Visit the Animal Bites page for information on preventing animal bites and scratches. |
Vaccinate your pet |
All cats and dogs over the age of three months must be vaccinated against rabies. It is the law. Pet owners whose animals are not vaccinated can be fined. |
Symptoms |
Symptoms of rabies in animals may include:
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West Nile virus
West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes and can cause serious illness. The virus spreads when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird and then bites a person.
Prevent Exposure to West Nile Virus - Video
Monitoring West Nile virus |
Public Health conducts and annual program that uses a layered approach to monitoring and preventing West Nile in Waterloo Region. This includes:
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Protecting yourself |
Reduce standing water outside your home by:
Use screens to keep mosquitoes outside by:
Protect yourself by:
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Symptoms |
Most people do not experience any symptoms. For those who do become ill, symptoms can occur three to 15 days following the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms may include:
If you develop these symptoms it is important to seek medical attention. |
What to do with dead birds |
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Additional resources
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