Are You Tick Smart?
Lyme Disease:Lyme disease is an infection caused by the corkscrew shaped bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. In Ontario, these bacteria are spread by the bite of blacklegged ticks.
Although there are other types of ticks in Ontario (e.g. dog ticks), only the blacklegged tick can transmit Lyme disease. Dog ticks are larger and common all over Ontario, while black legged ticks are smaller with established populations occurring sporadically throughout Ontario. The adults are fairly easy to see on clothing, but the nymphs are much smaller, harder to see and can transmit Lyme disease too. Ticks cannot fly and usually come in contact with people or animals by positioning themselves on tall grass and bushes and grabbing on when you walk by.
If you find an attached tick, use tweezers to carefully remove it and take it to your local Health Unit for testing.
Although there are other types of ticks in Ontario (e.g. dog ticks), only the blacklegged tick can transmit Lyme disease. Dog ticks are larger and common all over Ontario, while black legged ticks are smaller with established populations occurring sporadically throughout Ontario. The adults are fairly easy to see on clothing, but the nymphs are much smaller, harder to see and can transmit Lyme disease too. Ticks cannot fly and usually come in contact with people or animals by positioning themselves on tall grass and bushes and grabbing on when you walk by.
If you find an attached tick, use tweezers to carefully remove it and take it to your local Health Unit for testing.
| get-tick-smart.pdf |
| check_your_tick.pdf |
