Photo submitted by Jason Tetro
Tick season is in full swing in Northwestern Ontario.
Infectious Disease expert and “Germ Guy” Jason Tetro is promising a busy season due to a mild winter.
“Now this has been a trend for quite some time and I think in the last few years we’ve actually seen the number of cases of tick sightings and captures go up almost exponentially. So we all should be really prepared for that.”
Tetro adds black legged or the deer ticks cause Lyme disease and the Dryden, Kenora and even Rainy River regions are considered high risk areas.
He says everyone in our area should be vigilant.
The Northwestern Health Unit no longer accepts ticks for identification and identification.
People are asked to use a provincial digital platform, Tick Collection Portal
Tetro has some tips to stay safe this summer:
-Wearing light-coloured clothing so it’s easier to spot ticks.
-Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants tucked into your socks, and closed-toed shoes.
-Using an insect repellent with DEET or icaridin in it, which is effective and safe when applied as directed on the label.
-Staying on marked trails.
-Checking yourself, your children, and your pets after being outdoors and removing any ticks promptly, and washing your clothes after an outdoor activity.
To hear more from Jason Tetro, visit the Audio link below:
