The provinicial government sent out an advisory to Manitobans urging them to take precautions against ticks.
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Manitoba Health Seniors and Active Living said in a news release.
One way the province says people can guard against tick-borne diseases is by knowing where blacklegged ticks live. That species of tick can carry diseases like anaplamosis, babesiosis and Lyme disease.
“(They) are most commonly found within and along the edge of forests and in areas with thick, woody shrubs and other vegetation,” said the news release.
They’re most common during the early spring through to late fall, and their smaller nymphs are most common during late spring and summer.
People should make sure to do a tick check after coming in from outside and learn the signs and symptoms of tick-borne diseases.
You should also:
- Apply tick repellent
- Inspect yourself, children and pets after spending time outside
- Remove ticks as soon as possible
- Stay to the centre of walking trails
- Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts
- Keep grass and shrubs short
For more information on the signs and symptoms of tick-borne diseases and their treatments, as well as a map of areas where they are most common, visit the website.
If you think you have one of these dieseases, call Health Links at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257.
