Blacklegged ticks found in Whitchurch-Stouffville, King

Yorkregion.com
June 28, 2017
By Ali Raza

Watch out for ticks this summer, York Region warns.

The Regional Municipality of York’s spring tick surveillance results revealed blacklegged ticks in natural, wooded areas in the region. As a result, residents are advised to take precautions outdoors.

Four blacklegged ticks were found in the York Regional Forest North Tract in Whitchurch-Stouffville and one blacklegged tick was found near Joker’s Hill and the Koffler Scientific Reserve in King.

“Ticks found through our spring surveillance program have been sent to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg to test for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease,” said York Region medical officer of health Dr. Karim Kurji.

“Not all ticks are infected with the bacteria, so not all tick bites spread Lyme disease. Residents are still advised to be smart when outdoors in natural, wooded areas and take precautions to protect both people and pets.”

York Region Public Health conducts tick surveillance in the spring and fall across its 27 natural public spaces, including municipal parks, conservation areas, regional forest tracts and ravines.

The active surveillance program involves dragging a white cloth through brushy, wooded areas to determine if blacklegged ticks are present that could potentially spread Lyme disease.

The passive surveillance program asks residents and doctors to submit ticks to York Region Public Health for identification and testing.

Blacklegged ticks are found in most natural areas in Ontario.

In 2015, one blacklegged tick was found near Joker’s Hill and in 2014 and 2015, six ticks were found in Rouge Valley in Markham. The ticks tested negative for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, but Rouge Valley has been identified as a Lyme disease risk area by Public Health Ontario.

More information on Lyme disease is available at york.ca/lymedisease or by contacting York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.