Lyme disease has been found in  Southwestern Ontario as a result  of testing done on a black tick found in Port Burwell which is about 25 kilometres south of Tillsonburg.  Black Ticks, also known as deer ticks thrive in tall grasses, woods, and bushes. Areas considered high risk include provincial parks in Turkey Point and Long Point.

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infection that is spread by ticks. You can get Lyme disease if you are bitten by an infected tick but most people who have had a tick bite don’t get Lyme disease. It’s still important to see your doctor if you have a tick attached to you that you can’t remove.

Lyme disease is found in Canada.

What Are The Symptoms

Fever, headache, muscle and joint pain and fatigue.
An expanding red rash that can sometimes look like a bull’s-eye at the site of the bite.

Why is Lyme Disease Scary

If untreated, Lyme disease can progress into arthritic symptoms, cardiac issues, extreme fatigue and weakness and nervous system disorders.

Avril Lavigne has been quite vocal about her experiences with Lyme disease.

 


Can You Prevent Lyme Disease?

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to protect yourself from ticks. Cover up as much skin as you can when you’re going to be in wooded or grassy areas. Wear a hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants with the legs tucked into your socks. And keep in mind that it’s easier to see ticks on light-coloured clothes.

Use a bug repellent that has the chemical DEET to keep away ticks. Check your pets for ticks after they’ve been outside. You can’t get Lyme disease from your pet. But your pet can bring infected ticks inside. These ticks can fall off your pet and attach to you.

Check your clothing and outdoor gear after you have been outside. Remove any ticks you find. Then put your clothing in a clothes dryer on high heat for 1 hour to kill any ticks that might remain.

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