MANITOBANS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO STEELING
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and public health officials at Manitoba Health are reminding Manitoba residents that tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease, are preventable.
Lyme disease is becoming more common in southern Manitoba. To help prevent infection, Manitoba Health recommends that people visit their health care provider within 72 hours to receive antibiotics if they have had a high-risk tick bite, which is defined as:
- reliably identified as a black-legged tick;
- attached for at least 36 hours or the tick has been saturated; and
- from southern Manitoba (south of the 53rd parallel) or another known risk area outside of Manitoba for Lyme disease.
Black-footed ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis, are most common in and around forests and in areas with dense, woody shrubs or other vegetation. However, they can also be found in urban areas, including household yards. These ticks are usually found from melting snow to snowfall, with peaks of activity in spring and autumn.
Manitobanes can be protected and minimize the risk of exposure by:
- apply a suitable tick repellent on exposed skin and clothing, following the instructions on the label;
- wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts;
- stay in the center of footpaths;
- inspecting yourself, children and pets after spending time outdoors;
- removal of ticks as quickly as possible from people and pets; and
- maintaining grass and shrubs around homes trimmed to create a drier environment that is less suitable for the survival of black-footed ticks.
It is also important for people to be aware of the signs and symptoms of tick-borne diseases. A list of symptoms can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/tickborne/index.html. People should contact their healthcare provider if they think they may have anaplasmosis, babesiosis or Lyme disease. For more information, people can also contact Health Links – Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) 1-888 315-9257.
Manitoba’s partnership with the eTick program, developed and managed by Bishop’s University, helps monitor and evaluate the continuing expansion of black-legged tick populations. Manitobans that detect ticks on animals, humans or in different habitats can send a photo to be identified by experts, which will confirm whether the tick belongs to a species capable of transmitting disease. For more information or to send a photo of a tick, visit www.etick.ca.
To learn more about black-legged ticks, tick-borne diseases and prevention, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/tickborne/.
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