Lyme disease had a large number of outbreaks this past year in Lambton County, which has also reached some of London.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria is spread by the bite of black legged ticks. Not everyone bit by a tick does in fact get Lyme disease and has a higher chance of being rare. A tick can give off the infection of Lyme disease if being attached for more than 24 hours.
Ticks are very closely related to spiders, and are found mostly outside in forest areas which is why they are found in London.
Jeremy Hogeveen Vector-Borne Disease Coordinator for the Middlesex-London Health Unit explains about the ticks found in London
Here are 5 tips to prevent Lyme disease:
- Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from getting inside your pants.
- Check your clothes for ticks often. Ticks will climb upwards until they find an area of exposed skin.
- Wear light coloured clothing to make it easier to spot ticks.
- Walk on pathways or trails when possible staying in the middle. Avoid low-lying brush or long grass.
- Apply insect repellent to your skin and clothing, especially at the openings such as ankle, wrist and neck.
