Waterloo Region – Region of Waterloo Public Health has identified blacklegged ticks in the region that are positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Residents should take steps to protect themselves when spending time outdoors.

“Simple ways to help reduce your risk of tick bites are to stay on trails, wear protective clothing, and use insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin,” said Dr. Megan Davis, Medical Resident with Region of Waterloo Public Health. “Check yourself, children and pets after being outdoors. Removing ticks without delay can help reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases. An infected tick needs to be attached to a person for at least 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease.”

Remove ticks using the following steps: 

• Use fine-pointed tweezers to grab the tick's head and mouth as close to your skin as possible.

• Pull slowly. Do not twist or rotate. Try not to damage it.

• Place the tick in a sealed bag or a container with a lid.

• Thoroughly wash the area where you were bitten with soap and water.
• Submit a photo of the tick to eTick.ca, a free service that will help to identify the type of tick within 48 hours. Region of Waterloo Public Health does not accept ticks for identification or testing.

Contact your health care provider if it is a blacklegged or unidentifiable tick, especially if you are feeling unwell. Lyme disease symptoms can appear from three days to one month after a bite from an infected tick.

More information on Lyme disease, tick safety, and how to perform a tick check is available at regionofwaterloo.ca/Ticks. 

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