STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.
By Sheena Roszell

Albertans reminded to check for ticks and get them tested

May 26, 2018 | 6:00 AM

It’s that time of year for ticks.

If you find a tick it should be removed safely, using tweezers, as soon as possible and it should be submitted to the province’s surveillance program.

“So that we can check those ticks to see what type they are and if they have the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease,” explained Deputy Medical Officer of Health Doctor Kristin Klein.  “That’s how we in Alberta determine the risk of acquiring Lyme disease in the province.

Within Grande Prairie, ticks can be submitted to an Alberta health Services Environmental Public Health Office, through First Nations health centres, through veterinarians if the tick is found on a pet or through a physician’s office.

A tick bite that is relatively new would be very hard to tell from any other type of bug bite.

“If the tick has bitten them and it’s been in their skin for a day or longer, there is a risk that they could get Lyme disease from a tick bite and they should see their physician for assessment,” said Dr. Klein. 

If the tick has been in your skin for a day or longer and did carry the Lyme disease bacteria there is a characteristic bullseye rash.

Lyme Disease that is detected early on can be treated with antibiotics.  But, if it is not found for weeks or months, there can be long-lasting serious health consequences, like joint pain, nerve pain, fatigue, according to Dr. Klein. 

To protect yourself from ticks, cover your skin when in grassy or wooded areas, wear bug repellent that contains DEET and be sure to check yourself, your kids and pets after you come in from outside.

According to Alberta Health, test results have shown that ticks carrying Lyme disease bacteria do not have established populations in Alberta, and the risk of contracting Lyme disease here is very low.

 

 

 

by Sheena Roszell