STEPHEN RICCIO
PONTIAC July 8, 2020
Public health officials are asking residents to be cautious of the risk of Lyme disease-transmitting ticks throughout the Outaouais, as they are most active during . . .
these summer months.
The risk to the Pontiac is higher than some other areas of the Outaouais, as ticks are native to this region.
According to a release from Gatineau Public Health, “Lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacteria that is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick. The tick lives in vegetation, mainly in woodlands and tall grass.”
Dr. Emily Manthorp is a medical specialist in public health and preventative medicine with CISSSO. She said that the Lyme disease causing bacteria that health officials most worry about is called borrelia bungdorferi, and it is carried by the tick that is present in Quebec: the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick.
“Lyme disease is an infection that usually manifests in the coming months after the tick bite, and it manifests with a red rash at the site of the bite, which is usually expansive and it will attain a diameter of at least five centimetres,” Manthorp said. “Then you can also have other symptoms typical of infection, so headaches, fever, muscle aches and pain.”
Left untreated, the disease can cause memory problems, chronic joint inflammation, heart rhythm issues and other neurological symptoms.
Manthorp said her biggest message to residents is to always inspect yourself once you get home from outdoor activities, preferably in the shower.
“The infection isn’t automatic, so the tick actually needs to be attached for a certain period of time in order for the tick to transmit the bacteria,” Manthorp explained.
“In fact, in the first 24 hours after attachment the risk of acquiring infection is actually quite low. Which is why the most important thing to do after we’ve been outdoors, doing an outdoor activity or working outdoors, is to inspect the skin for ticks.”
She cautioned that the risk of infection jumps quite a bit after the initial 24 hours, with there being a significant risk of infection from black-legged tick bites after 48-72 hours.
Given the appeal of heading outdoors during these summer months, Manthorp advised that people be mindful of ticks anytime they are doing something around vegetation, whether it be hiking, camping, gardening or working.
She said that it is best if people wear closed shoes, socks and long pants when they are around outdoor vegetation. There is also added benefit to wearing light coloured clothing, Manthorp added, as the contrast with the dark coloured ticks can allow for better identification if a tick were on someone.
Manthorp acknowledged that a lot of people may want to wear shorts due to the heat, so she also emphasized the need to wear either a DEET-based or icaridin-based insect repellent.
If anyone experiences what appears to be a tick bite, they should call Info-Santé 811. For information on how to remove ticks or anything else tick-related, people can visit https://cisss-outaouais.gouv.qc.ca/language/en/public-health-health-and-wellness/infectious-disease-prevention/other-infectious-diseases/lymes-disease/
