As Albertans begin to get back out enjoying the provinces’ parks and camp grounds, the province is reminding people of the dangers of ticks.
“Whether they are going fishing out of province or camping in our beautiful mountains, I encourage families to be aware of ticks, and to know how to safely remove and submit them,” said Alberta Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman in a press release.
As part of the provinces strategy to monitor for and protect Albertan’s from Lyme Disease, anyone who comes across a tick is asked to submit it to the province’s tick surveillance program.
“Alberta’s tick surveillance program relies on Albertans submitting ticks to determine if populations of ticks able to cause Lyme disease are present in the province,” said Deputy Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kristin Klein.
“Thanks to tick submissions from previous years, we know the risk of getting Lyme disease in Alberta is very low. I encourage Albertans to keep submitting so we can continue to monitor the situation here,” she said.
Ticks that are found on a person or in their surroundings can be submitted to either and Environmental Public Health Office, a First Nations Health Centre or a doctor for submission to the monitoring program.
Ticks that have bitten a person should be carefully removed with tweezers as soon as possible.
Ticks found on pets or livestock should be taken to a veterinarian.
The monitoring program checks to determine if the ticks are of the species that can transmit Lyme disease and, if capable, whether the tick is carrying the Lyme disease bacteria.
To date, the program has shown that ticks that can transmit Lyme disease have not established themselves in the province.
Because of thus the risk of contracting Lyme disease in Alberta is very low.
While the surveillance program tests the ticks for Lyme disease, it does not check people for infection.
Anyone who has been bitten by a tick and is concerned about having been exposed to Lyme disease should visit their family doctor, bringing the tick with them if possible.
To reduce the risk of being bitten, the province recommends covering up when going into wooded or grassy areas, using bug repellant with DEET, and checking people and pets after going outside.
For more information about the tick monitoring program or Lyme disease go to www.health.alberta.ca/health-info/lyme-disease.html.
