Public warned to be ‘vigilant’ as tick season arrives early in Ontario

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Tick season is coming.

Ticks are biting bugs that transmit pathogens to humans and animals.

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A mild winter and early spring has allowed the tick population to have a good survival rate. This will help tick season to start early and allow the bugs to spread diseases, such as Lyme disease.

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Associate professor Manisha Kulkarni, with the University of Ottawa’s School of Epidemiology and Public Health, leads the UPTick research project and anticipates early tick activity.

“There isn’t normally much activity before April, but this year on the eTicknorth_eastexternal link we’ve seen an increase in the number of eastern Ontario submissions,” Kulkarni said in a release.

“Black-legged ticks can be active when it’s above 4 C so the mild winter in Ontario likely helped ticks remain active. Based on the tick photo submissions we have received, people and/or pets have been encountering ticks in parts of southern Ontario and a few spots in eastern Ontario in December and January.”

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Kulkarni said they’ve seen a “continued expansion of blacklegged tick populations with more regions becoming endemic in Ontario.

“With more time in the spring, summer and autumn to find hosts, more ticks can reproduce,” she said. “This makes it both an expansion of endemic areas and an increase in tick abundance in those endemic areas.”

People may be at risk if they live, work in or visit a wooded area, or an area with tall grass and bushes, including city gardens and parks.

You may also be at risk if you are involved in outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping or gardening.

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“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, Ontario’s 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.”

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones said “it is important that people take steps to protect themselves from tick bites and tick-borne diseases.

“Black-legged 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.”

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