“Eight -legged ticks are insects in general, all need a certain amount of heat and humidity to complete their life cycle,” said Heather Coatsworth, head of field studies at the Winnipeg National Microbiology Laboratory.
Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia remain important households of black legs, which can carry bacteria, parasites and pathogens for humans. However, climate change allows the population of ticks to grow in other regions of the country, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, she added.
To see also | Lyme disease continues to grow in several regions
Here is what you need to know about these diseases to enjoy the good weather safely.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
The most revealing sign of Lyme disease is a rash in the shape of a circular or oval target, present in 60 to 80% of cases.
Lyme disease can cause fever, fatigue, swelling from lymph nodes or muscle and joint pain.
What do ticks look like?
“Many people are very surprised when I show them a black leg tick. They do not come back from its small size, ”explains Dr. Curtis Russell, specialist in Diseases with Vector Transmission with Public Health Ontario.
An adult tick not filled with blood has about the size of a sesame seed. A young tick is about the size of a poppy seed.
According to the Canada Public Health Agency, ticks live in wooded and grassy areas.
How to prevent tick stings?
Preventing tick stings is similar to repelling mosquitoes, said Dr. Mayank Singal, a public health doctor at the British Columbia Headlight Control Center.
Wearing long sleeves, long pants and the use of insectifuges are important measures. It is best to choose clear clothes, because they make it easier to spot a tick when it arises.
Dr. Dr. Singal also recommends avoiding any contact with foliage and bushes, because it is generally where they hang.
After an outdoor activity, you must check all your body, including the unpresentation parts. It is even suggested to take a bath or shower.
“They generally crawl everywhere before biting and tend to bite the root of the hair, the armpits, the back of the legs and the groin,” said Dr. Russel.
He also recommends washing his clothes and putting them in the dryer, where high heat will kill ticks.
If I see a tick, should I remove it?
Yes. Make it with tweezers as soon as possible, suitable for experts.
A tick pushes her mouth into the skin, the legs exceeding, and it is important to remove it entirely.
“You have to grasp it as close as possible to the edge of the skin, press the pliers (…) and pull it up,” explains Dr. Singal.
“It should not be twisted, nor turn it left and right. Just pull it up to remove it as much as possible. ”
And after?
If you have had a tick on yourself and you start to develop symptoms, you have to consult your health professional and inform him that we may have been exposed to a disease transmitted by ticks, suggests Dr. Russell.
