Lyme disease is increasingly present in the Laurentians region.
The CISSS Public Health Directorate notes that fifty municipalities are now high at risk of having black legs infected with a bacteria that can transmit the disease.
Several tips are issued in the event that a person is stung by a tick, in order to minimize the chances of developing Lyme disease.
The CISSS recalls that the best way of not contracting Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites during outdoor activities.
Ticks do not jump, do not fly and do not drop from the top of a branch. However, they can cling to a person or pet in contact with high herbs, shrubs or other plants.
To avoid tick bites, it is recommended to:
- Stay in the trails and avoid high herbs;
- Use a mosquito repellent based on Deet or Icaridine on the clothes and on the exposed parts of the body, following the usage advice;
- Wear a hat, closed shoes and long and pale clothes (which better see ticks);
- Place the upper clothing in the pants and the bottom of the pants in socks or boots;
- Take a shower or a bath and examine your body well when I got home, to locate and quickly get rid of any tick that would have remained hung on the skin.
In the event of a bite, it is recommended to remove the tick with a tick pump or a fine pliers within 24 hours, to consult a doctor or a pharmacist and, if necessary, to obtain a dose of antibiotic to prevent infection before the appearance of symptoms.
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