Lyme Disease Bud Ivey CPHI(C) March

Lyme Disease First identified in 1975 in a group of arthritis patients in Lyme, Connecticut 1978 it was found to be tick related 1981 Borrelia burgdorferi was identified as the main cause of Lyme disease

Where is it Found?

Lyme disease is the most common tick related illness in the Northern Hemisphere Ticks able to carry Lyme disease are spreading into Canada at a rate of 46 km/year, caused by global warming Within HKPR we have a known hot spot located at Presqu’ile Provincial Park in Brighton

Presqu’ile & Sandbanks Provincial Parks

Who is at risk of infection? Anyone can get bitten by a tick Often people frequenting wooded and rural areas Common for hikers, hunters, birders, dog walkers etc.

How can I get Lyme disease? Caused by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick Most commonly found in fields and forested areas Ticks like to attach to the body in warm protected areas ie: groin, armpits, scalp

What do ticks look like?

What does HKPR do with ticks? When a tick is brought into HKPR: PHIs take the tick and victim info to send for testing Ticks sent to Peterborough Public Health lab to determine type (1-2 weeks avg.) If specimen is a deer tick the lab sends the tick to Winnipeg for Lyme testing (additional 2-6 weeks)

Managing Deer ticks acquire Lyme disease pathogens from rodents, not from deer However Controlling the deer population also controls the deer tick population as they need the deer for reproductive success

Preventing Exposure Light colored clothing (easier to spot ticks) Wear long pants and sleeves Wear closed toed footwear Tuck your pants into socks Use insect repellant with DEET Put a tick and flea collar on your pet Thorough check of your body after being in tick habitat

Prompt removal, usually requires >24 hours to transmit Using tweezers gently grab tick close to skin and pull straight out Do not squeeze the tick as it can cause release of Lyme disease agent What do I do if I get bit?

Place the tick in a container and see your doctor Bring the tick to either your doctor or health unit Cleanse bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water What do I do if I get bit?

How do I know if there is a problem? 1 st Stage Fever, chills, joint pain, headache, fatigue Bull’s eye rash called Erythema Chronicum Migrans may appear 3 to 30 days after bite Public Health Agency of Canada

How do I know if there is a problem? 2 nd Stage Nervous system damage Central – meningitis Peripheral – facial nerve paralysis Can last up to several months

How do I know if there is a problem? 3 rd Stage Lasts months to years if untreated causing arthritis and neurological symptoms

Pets are also a great mode of transmission for ticks Ticks can grab on fur while in long grass, dense bush Ticks can fall from trees on to animals Lyme Disease and Pets

Animals bring the ticks home Always check animals for ticks when returning from tick infested areas Lyme Disease and Pets

Questions?