Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a serious illness that is spread by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis,) found most often near wooded areas in southern, eastern and northwestern Ontario. It can have severe symptoms, but it's also easy to prevent and treat when caught early.

How do I protect myself from ticks?

Ticks can get on you if you brush against vegetation to which they are attached. If you go into wooded or grassy areas, it is recommended to wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and closed-toe shoes. Pants should be tucked into socks and bug spray or other insect repellents should be used on all exposed skin. Choose a bug spray or repellent approved by Health Canada and follow the instructions on the package.
After being outdoors, check yourself and those in your care for ticks. Ask for someone's help to check spots that you can't see.
Change your clothes and take a shower to help wash off ticks that have not yet attached themselves.

What to do if a tick is found?

If a tick is found in the skin, tweezers should be used to remove it as soon as possible. Hold the tick gently with the tweezers, as close to its head as possible, and pull it out slowly. It is important to clean the area and apply a bandage if necessary. Place the tick in a container.
Contact the Health Unit for identification.
Give the tick to a health care provider, or the Health Unit. It will be sent to a laboratory for testing.

Send a picture of the tick to the eTick website. All you need is a cell phone to take a picture and upload it directly to the website. Successfully uploaded, species identification is available within 48hours.

Quick facts about Lyme disease

Symptoms of Lyme disease usually begin within three days to one month after being bitten by an infected tick. In early infection, signs and symptoms can include a bull's eye skin rash at the site of the recent tick bite, fever, general unwell feeling, headache, muscle aches, neck stiffness, fatigue and joint pain. If you have been exposed to a tick and have these symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible.
If left untreated, Lyme disease symptoms could become worse and lead to extreme fatigue, general weakness and affect the heart, joints and nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed through a combination of symptom presentation, history of exposure to infected ticks and/or positive laboratory test results.
In the last five years, there have been five human cases of Lyme disease reported to our Health Unit, three of which were travel-related cases.
As of November 29, 2022, ninety-nine ticks have been sent for identification. Ninety-eight results received, with fifty-eight as blacklegged. Fifty-one have tested negative for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Ticks vary in size and colour. They can be hard to see until they engorge themselves with blood. Adult females are three to five millimetres long before they feed, but young ticks are smaller and lighter in colour.
In Ontario, blacklegged ticks are found more commonly in rural areas along the north shores of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Superior and the St. Lawrence River.

Additional resources

Visit Ontario.ca/Lyme, or watch the Public Health Agency of Canada's Lyme disease video.

Download a Lyme disease fact sheet from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care [ l es tiques et la maladie de lyme ]