Tick trouble is back: Here’s how to stay safe outdoors this spring
With spring temperatures rising above 4°C, ticks are becoming active again across our listening area.
We spoke to Dr. Linna Li who says blacklegged ticks in the area may carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease, or other illnesses.
Andrew Dunn is a Public Health Inspector who says to be safe we have to be “tick smart”.
That means wearing light-coloured clothing, using repellents with DEET or Icaridin, and doing full-body tick checks after outdoor activities. Pets should also be checked.
Dr. Li says a tick must be attached for 12 to 24 hours or longer to spread disease.
If you’ve been bitten, watch for symptoms like fever, chills, headache and fatigue.