Toronto Public Health confirm they will be monitoring for ticks in parts of the city as summer-like weather arrives.
In an email sent to CTV Toronto on Tuesday, health officials say ticks believed to be the blacklegged variety from Rouge Valley, Morningside Park and Algonquin Island have been sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory to be tested for Lyme disease.
Last November, blacklegged ticks that tested positive for Lyme disease were found in Rouge Valley.
Blacklegged ticks range in size from a poppy seed to a pea. They are the only type in Ontario that carries Lyme disease.
Symptoms for Lyme disease can differ from person to person. Early symptoms usually occur within one to two weeks of a bite, but can also appear as soon as three days or as long as a month after being infected.
Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pains
- Fatigue
- An expanding "bull's-eye" shaped rash at the site of the tick bite
The likelihood of contracting the disease is highest in the spring and summer months. Public health officials are warning residents to take precautions in brushy or wooded areas of the Rouge Valley.
It is suggested that people:
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants
- Wear socks and closed footwear
- Tuck their pants into their socks
- Wear light-coloured clothing, which makes it easier to spot tiny ticks
- Use insect repellent that contains DEET
- Check their pets for ticks, and put a tick and flea collar on them
If left untreated, Lyme disease can result in recurring arthritis, numbness and even paralysis. These symptoms can last months to years. The Public Health Agency of Canada says, while fatalities from Lyme disease are not common, they have been reported.
To learn more about Lyme disease, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada website.
