We shared an ad from our client Mosquito Buzz about tick season and received a number of comments from readers concerned about the dangers of tick bites.
While ticks are most active in spring and summer, they can be found any time of the year when the temperature is above freezing (0°C). Experts say they’re seeing signs of earlier tick activity this year due to our mild winter and early spring. The Ontario government is encouraging people across the province to take precautions to prevent tick bites and reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
Infected blacklegged ticks can be found almost anywhere in the province. Since 2021, there have been almost 5,000 cases of Lyme disease, 17 cases of anaplasmosis, and 10 cases of babesiosis in Ontario. Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases can cause potentially serious infections if you’re bitten by an infected blacklegged tick, commonly called a deer tick. If you have any symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, muscle and joint pain, fatigue and an expanding circular rash that resembles a bulls-eye, consult a health care provider as soon as possible. Ontario pharmacists are able to treat and prescribe medications for tick bites.
“As we start enjoying the warmer weather again, it is important that we all take steps to protect ourselves and loved ones from tick bites and tick-borne diseases,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Blacklegged ticks are continuing to spread to new areas of the province, but by being proactive, we can combat the risk they pose and safely enjoy the beauty of Ontario over the coming months.”
If you are living, working, visiting, or enjoying outdoor activities in a wooded area, or an area with tall grass and bushes (including city gardens and parks) you are at greater risk of being bitten by a tick. You can protect yourself from tick bites by:
Wearing light-coloured clothing, so it’s easier to spot ticks.
Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants tucked into your socks, closed-toed shoes, or any special clothing designed to repel ticks.
Applying insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin on your exposed skin and your clothes.
Checking yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks after being outdoors. Any ticks found should be removed promptly.
Putting your clothes on high heat in a dryer for at least 10 minutes before washing them, after spending time outdoors.
Ticks are very small and hard to see. When found, it should be removed immediately using fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible without crushing it. Once you have removed a tick, wash your skin with soap and water and then disinfect your skin and your hands with rubbing alcohol or an iodine swab. Before disposing of the tick, call or check the website of your local public health unit to get advice on how to identify the tick. You can also submit a photo of the tick to etick.ca for identification.
“As areas where ticks can be found continue to grow, so to do the risks of tick bites and tick-borne diseases,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “By being vigilant, wearing appropriate clothing and doing routine tick checks, we can avoid tick bites and ensure our trips outside are safe and healthy, in the months ahead.”
If you have any health concerns after a tick bite, consult a health care provider as soon as possible. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
For more information on ticks and tick-borne diseases visit Ontario.ca/ticks
Preventing ticks on your pets
Dogs are very susceptible to tick bites and tickborne diseases. Vaccines are not available for most of the tickborne diseases that dogs can get, and they don’t keep the dogs from bringing ticks into your home. For these reasons, it’s important to use a tick preventive product on your dog.
Tick bites on dogs may be hard to detect. Signs of tickborne disease may not appear for 7-21 days or longer after a tick bite, so watch your dog closely for changes in behavior or appetite if you suspect that your pet has been bitten by a tick. Talk to your veterinarian about the best tick prevention products for your dog and tickborne diseases in your area. You should check your pets for ticks daily, especially after they spend time outdoors. If you find a tick on your pet, remove it right away with clean fine-point tweezers and wash the bite area with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer.
