Blog Vol. II # 4. Deer Ticks, Again!
Last summer, around this time,
I did a blog on Lyme disease. As they
say, repetition is the queen of learning; repetition is the queen of learning. Also, as we go along we find out more about
things so…
Did you know that the tick
that carries the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, is called a Deer Tick? Some think that if we could reduce the deer
population, we could also slow down the spread of the disease. Not true, the deer is one of many hosts that
the tick inhabits over its life span, with its most common host being the White-Footed
Mouse. The deer tick can even be carried by the Eastern Chipmunk. Through many stages in its life cycle the
tick spreads the spirochete that causes Lyme disease in humans though it does
not adversely affect its host.
A concern is the gradual
rising of temperatures. As the winter
season shortens, the time of activity for the tick is increased, creating a
higher incidence of the disease in our stomping grounds of southern Ontario. Lyme disease was originally found in the New
England area in the 1970’s and was originally named for the town of Lyme,
Connecticut. The range of the tick has
spread over the years, and the number of known cases of
Lyme disease
continues to rise.
What
to do?
- When outdoors, especially in wooded areas, use bug spray with at least 20% DEET.
- After outdoor activity, check your body for any clinging ticks.
If you find a tick attached to your
skin, there’s no need to panic—the key is to remove the tick as soon as
possible. Pull gently with a set of fine-tipped tweezers trying to get the
whole tick including the mouth, and then clean the site with alcohol. If you suspect exposure, contact your
physician for a consult.
There is much information online; look
particularly at the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation website.
Til next week,
the good doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Optometrist.
