The testing of ticks is a lengthy process and is not intended to guide diagnosis. Waiting for tick test results could delay appropriate treatment. Free tick identification is available online through etick.ca.
Lyme disease is spread to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Not all blacklegged ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Public Health Ontario has identified the KFL&A area as a high-risk area for Lyme disease. There are other areas in Ontario that are risk areas for Lyme disease (PDF).
KFL&A Public Health receives reports of human Lyme disease from local physicians. In 2019, there were 285 cases reported to KFL&A Public Health.
While the greatest risk of exposure to a tick is during the spring, summer and early fall months, ticks can be active any time the weather is above freezing. It is important to know that during the spring and early summer months, ticks can be very small (the size of a poppy seed) and once attached will often go unnoticed. This results in a higher chance of being infected with Lyme disease. An unexpected fever or rash may be the first sign of Lyme disease. Call your health care provider even if you don't remember being bitten by a tick.
Preventing tick bites |
Take the following precautions to reduce the risk:
If you live or work in a woodland area there are other steps you can take to prevent bites. |
How to remove a tick |
Remove the tick promptly to decrease the risk of getting Lyme disease.
In the KFL&A area, ticks do not need to be submitted to KFL&A Public Health for testing. The testing of ticks is not intended to guide diagnosis and could result in a delay of appropriate treatment. |
Lyme disease symptoms |
Symptoms of Lyme disease often occur within 1 to 2 weeks. Sometimes symptoms can appear as early as 3 days or as late as 30 days after a bite with an infected tick. Symptoms can include:
See your health care provider right away whether you have symptoms or are just feeling unwell in the weeks following a tick bite. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Left untreated, Lyme disease can last years and cause recurring arthritis, and neurological problems. |