Hanover and area newest risk area for blacklegged ticks

Article content

The Hanover area is the newest estimated risk area for blacklegged ticks in Grey-Bruce, according to Public Health Ontario. 

Article content

Blacklegged ticks can transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. 

Public Health Ontario recently released its 2024 Ontario Blacklegged Tick Established Risk Areas Map. The updated Ontario Blacklegged Tick Estimated Risk Areas map assists public health units in investigating Lyme disease cases and provides primary care providers with valuable information when considering potential exposures to blacklegged tick bites, the organization said. 

According to Grey Bruce Public Health, there were six confirmed or probable cases of Lyme disease in 2022, five in 2021 and no reported cases in 2020. Numbers for 2023 are not yet available. 

An estimated risk area is a location where blacklegged ticks have been identified or are known to occur and where people could encounter them. Estimated risk areas are calculated as a 20-kilometre radius from the centre of a location where blacklegged ticks were found through drag sampling. The new estimated risk area in Grey-Bruce was established in response to the results of Grey Bruce Public Health’s 2023 tick surveillance.

Article content

Grey-Bruce now has four risk areas, including much of the area surrounding Owen Sound and Port Elgin. 

Grey Bruce Public Health is encouraging residents and visitors to take steps to prevent tick bites while outdoors especially in known tick habitats such as in wooded or bushy areas, tall grass, or piles of leaves. 

“It’s important to stress that these are estimated risk areas only and infective blacklegged ticks can be found pretty much anywhere in Ontario, especially if the habitat is ideal for these poppy-seed-sized arachnids. Because of this, people should take precautions to prevent tick bites whenever they’re enjoying the outdoors. Preventing tick bites is the best way to prevent Lyme disease,” said GBPH senior public health manager Andrew Barton in a media release. 

Article content

Lyme disease is a relatively rare vector-borne illness in Canada caused by the bacterium B. burgdoferi, which blacklegged ticks can carry. 

People can get Lyme disease if an infective blacklegged tick bites and then feeds on them long enough to transmit the bacteria – in most cases, this takes at least 24 hours, public health said. 

Not all blacklegged ticks carry the bacteria and not everyone bitten by a tick will develop signs and symptoms of Lyme disease.

There were 1,490 Lyme disease cases reported throughout Ontario in 2022, representing a rate of 9.9 cases per 100,000 people.

Public health said the best way to avoid tick bites is to use bug repellent containing DEET or Icaridin, wear light-coloured clothing, tuck in shirts and tuck in pant legs to socks, wear closed-toe shoes, walk on paths and trails, use a stick-roll brush to remove ticks from clothing, inspect children, gear and pets for ticks, and shower or bathe shortly after being outdoors. 

If bitten by a tick, remove it immediately. Information on how to remove and identify a tick can be found on Health Canada’s Lyme Disease webpage.

Early Lyme disease symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle/joint pain, fatigue and a bull’s-eye rash. Residents should consult a healthcare provider if experiencing these symptoms.

If caught early, Lyme disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics. 

GBPH follows up with all residents diagnosed with Lyme disease. 

Share this article in your social network