Lyme disease detected in local dogs, by Johanna Weidner, Record staff [2010 JUNE 02]
Scope of Lyme disease in region, country contested by health authorities and patients, by Johanna Weidner, Record staff [2010 JUNE 07]
Members have picked up ticks in the spring, summer and early fall in the south end of the Grand Valley Trail. They have reported that tick removals have been necessary at home. In most cases the ticks have been dog ticks rather than deer ticks.
The ticks encountered in the Spring of 2000 were not deer ticks according to an assessment done by a Ministry of Health Unit. They were dog ticks and apparently they do not harbour the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The dog ticks were easy to see as they are about 4x the size of deer ticks. Regardless of the species, do a body and clothing check and destroy! (Posted 2000/JUL/23) |
The following information is from my "bible" called "Backpacker's Field Manual" by Rick Curtis, Director, Princetown University Outdoor Action. It generally sums up what we require.
"Tick can be found almost anywhere. The best defense against them is to wear hats, button up your shirt, tuck your long pants into your socks, or wear gaiters. Applying insect repellent to clothing and boots can also help. Also perform regular "tick checks". ( Get your partner to view your entire body back and front, even with a magnifying glass.) Adult ticks usually like to wander around the body for an hour or two before they attach, and they like to attach in a warm hairy place. Therefore, you should run your fingers through your hair and closely examine your scalp. Ticks can also attach in the groin, under the arms, in or behind the ears, or occasionally underneath women's breasts."
Treatment
"To remove a tick with tweezers, grasp the tick's head as close to the skin as possible, paying careful attention to the head of the tick, which may still be under the skin. Pull it straight out. Do not grab the tick in the middle part of it's body. Ticks may carry harmful bacteria, and squeezing their abdomen may inject the bacteria into the wound. There are also special "tick tweezers" designed to remove the tick completely. Do not burn or smother the tick with fluids. These methods are not effective in removing the tick and may force infected fluid into the bloodstream. Evacuation is not necessary, but be sure to clean the area as you would any wound. If possible, save the tick for identification. Place it in a plastic bag with a small amount of vegetation. Live ticks can be tested to see if they are carrying a disease. Anyone who has an engorged tick removed should watch signs of a tick-borne illness after the trip. Blood test for some tick-borne diseases are available."
Trust that this is helpful information,
Charles Whitlock, President (2001)
Be sure to read the Bugs article by Greg Vincent. You may wish to spend time checking some of the web sites listed below.
Tick Removal - the correct way to remove them once they have latched into the skin
Deer Tick Images
Updated 2010 JUNE 19 SUNDAY
