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Watch Out for Ticks in Oxford County

Friday, 9 April 2021 05:39

Tick season has officially arrived in Oxford County and Southwestern Public Health has a few tips to help you protect yourself.

OXFORD COUNTY - With the arrival of warmer weather, health officials are sending out reminders to be on alert for ticks.

The blacklegged or deer ticks that can carry various bacterial diseases, including Lyme disease, are becoming more common as the climate becomes warmer.

Some tick tips for the summer;

- Don’t walk with bare legs in tall grass, wooded areas or marshlands

- Wear long sleeves, pants and fully closed boots/ shoes

- Tuck your pants into your socks

- Wear light-coloured clothing to spot ticks easier

- Wear a bug repellent with Deet

- Do a “tick check” after walking in an area where you may come in contact with a tick

- Shower and towel off to remove any ticks that might not be attached, and then check underarms, neck and groin area

It is important to remember that ticks can be tiny. They can range from the size of a pinhead to the size of a watermelon seed, and even larger if they have been feeding.

Knowing the Lyme Disease hot spot areas is important so you can avoid them as much as possible. Click here for the Public Health Ontario Map.

If you have had a tick attach itself, determining the kind of tick can help to know your risk of getting Lyme disease. Ticks can be submitted online or in-person for identification. Only blacklegged ticks removed from humans will be tested for Lyme disease through the health department.  

For more information, including tips on how to remove a tick, click here.  

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