Spike in tick sightings in certain parts of Winnipeg: entomologist
As the summer season begins, Manitobans are being warned about the dangers of ticks.
According to entomologist Taz Stuart, more ticks are being spotted in parts of Winnipeg.
“For us personally, we deal with people’s backyards and we’re seeing increased numbers in certain areas of the city,” Stuart says.
“So when people go out, it’s important to be protecting yourself.”
Manitoba has been seeing an increase in tick-borne diseases over the past few years, with cases of Lyme disease more than doubling over five years.
Stuart notes Manitobans are at risk of being bitten by a tick right across southern Manitoba.
“When I first moved here in 2004, black-legged were in the southeast corner of Manitoba,” Stuart says.
“If you go online, you can see the spread of black-legged ticks across southern Manitoba and even into northern Manitoba.”
The province says that the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick, is one of the ticks responsible for spreading tick-borne diseases.
Stuart notes that Manitobans need to be checking themselves for ticks, and getting the proper testing if they do find one.
“You don’t want to get Lyme disease or any tick-borne disease,” Stuart says.
Anyone who spots or is bitten by a tick in Manitoba can use the eTick program, which provides people with quick and accurate access to tick identification.
To use the program, Manitobans can upload a picture of the tick online or through an app, and then answer a few questions about where and when they found the tick. From there, a provincial expert will identify the species of the tick and email the person to let them know if there is any medical relevance to the species and what they should do next.
Stuart says some ways people can lessen their risk is by wearing light-coloured clothing and using a repellant.
Stuarts adds that if someone goes for a walk or hike or spends time outside, they should keep off grassy areas or places where there is a tree line or edge.
- With files from CTV’s Maralee Caruso.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.