Beware the ‘silent evil’
By Jim Poling Sr.
Black
flies and mosquitoes are true nuisances but at least you can see and
hear them. A new danger developing in cottage country is one you usually
don’t see – until it is too late. Blacklegged ticks are moving north
and bringing Lyme disease. Lyme is an infection that can cause joint
pain, memory loss and extreme tiredness. It can be a seriously
debilitating disease affecting the brain and neurological tissue.
flies and mosquitoes are true nuisances but at least you can see and
hear them. A new danger developing in cottage country is one you usually
don’t see – until it is too late. Blacklegged ticks are moving north
and bringing Lyme disease. Lyme is an infection that can cause joint
pain, memory loss and extreme tiredness. It can be a seriously
debilitating disease affecting the brain and neurological tissue.
Blacklegged
ticks, also known as deer ticks, used to be confined to southern
Ontario – in fact mainly to the northeastern United States, until a
warming climate allowed them to migrate north. Now they are found in
wide areas across Canada.
ticks, also known as deer ticks, used to be confined to southern
Ontario – in fact mainly to the northeastern United States, until a
warming climate allowed them to migrate north. Now they are found in
wide areas across Canada.
In
2017, confirmed Canadian cases of Lyme disease totalled 2,025, an
astounding increase from 144 cases in 2002. Ontario in 2017 had 959
confirmed or probable cases compared with only a couple of dozen or so
back in 2002.
2017, confirmed Canadian cases of Lyme disease totalled 2,025, an
astounding increase from 144 cases in 2002. Ontario in 2017 had 959
confirmed or probable cases compared with only a couple of dozen or so
back in 2002.
Various
studies indicate that the ticks are advancing north by 35 to 55
kilometres a year. They are well established in the Barrie-Orillia
region.
studies indicate that the ticks are advancing north by 35 to 55
kilometres a year. They are well established in the Barrie-Orillia
region.
Ticks
carrying Lyme disease are not yet a huge threat in cottage country.
They are moving steadily in our direction, however, and people should be
building awareness, learning how to avoid them and how to examine
themselves and their pets for ticks attached to their skin.
carrying Lyme disease are not yet a huge threat in cottage country.
They are moving steadily in our direction, however, and people should be
building awareness, learning how to avoid them and how to examine
themselves and their pets for ticks attached to their skin.
The Ontario government has advised that areas not known to have ticks are not necessarily free of them.
“While
the probability is low, it is possible to find an infected tick almost
anywhere in Ontario,” says a government website on Lyme disease.
the probability is low, it is possible to find an infected tick almost
anywhere in Ontario,” says a government website on Lyme disease.
Examining
your body for ticks after being in the woods is an important habit to
develop. Unlike mosquitoes, which can infect you with West Nile disease
with a single bite, ticks need time to pass along Lyme disease.
your body for ticks after being in the woods is an important habit to
develop. Unlike mosquitoes, which can infect you with West Nile disease
with a single bite, ticks need time to pass along Lyme disease.
Also a tick gives off an anaesthetic while feeding on your blood so you do not feel its bite.
Medical
experts say a tick has to be attached to your body for a day or more to
get Lyme disease into your blood. So examining yourself promptly after
being in the woods and removing any ticks is important in reducing the
risk of being infected.
Medical
experts say a tick has to be attached to your body for a day or more to
get Lyme disease into your blood. So examining yourself promptly after
being in the woods and removing any ticks is important in reducing the
risk of being infected.
Ticks attached to your skin are not obvious. They can look like a small black dot, often the size of a poppy seed.
Awareness
of tick and Lyme disease dangers has been helped by the experiences of
two Canadian entertainers. Shania Twain lost her ability to sing because
of a condition she says was brought on by Lyme disease.
of tick and Lyme disease dangers has been helped by the experiences of
two Canadian entertainers. Shania Twain lost her ability to sing because
of a condition she says was brought on by Lyme disease.
She
was bitten by a tick in Norfolk, Virginia in 2003 and was diagnosed as
having Lyme disease. Later she developed dysphonia, which affects vocal
chords and is believed to be caused by problems in brain tissue. She was
told that this was related to Lyme disease.
She had surgery to
correct the condition and took a 15-year break from the music business.
She calls the disease a silent evil and urges people to be aware and
cautious.
was bitten by a tick in Norfolk, Virginia in 2003 and was diagnosed as
having Lyme disease. Later she developed dysphonia, which affects vocal
chords and is believed to be caused by problems in brain tissue. She was
told that this was related to Lyme disease.
She had surgery to
correct the condition and took a 15-year break from the music business.
She calls the disease a silent evil and urges people to be aware and
cautious.
“You’ve
got to check out where you are and whatever region you’re in, and what
the rate of Lyme disease is in the region, if you’re going to go out in
nature,” she told an interviewer in 2017.
got to check out where you are and whatever region you’re in, and what
the rate of Lyme disease is in the region, if you’re going to go out in
nature,” she told an interviewer in 2017.
She
is not the only high-profile person to contract the disease. Canadian
singer Avril Lavigne was bedridden for five months after being bitten by
a Lyme-infected tick in 2014.
Lavigne has said she felt fatigued and lightheaded for months until finally being diagnosed with the disease and treated.
is not the only high-profile person to contract the disease. Canadian
singer Avril Lavigne was bedridden for five months after being bitten by
a Lyme-infected tick in 2014.
Lavigne has said she felt fatigued and lightheaded for months until finally being diagnosed with the disease and treated.
“I
felt like I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t talk, and I couldn’t move,”
she said in a People magazine interview. “I thought I was dying.”
felt like I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t talk, and I couldn’t move,”
she said in a People magazine interview. “I thought I was dying.”
Also,
in 2006 former U.S. President George W. Bush got the disease from a
tick while riding his mountain bike. It was caught early and treated
successfully.
in 2006 former U.S. President George W. Bush got the disease from a
tick while riding his mountain bike. It was caught early and treated
successfully.
Dr.
David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer, has said most cases of
Lyme disease can be treated successfully but the key is to be aware.
David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer, has said most cases of
Lyme disease can be treated successfully but the key is to be aware.
“Lyme
disease is preventable,” he said in a recent news release. “That is why
we are encouraging Ontarians to learn how to be safe and prevent tick
bites. These simple precautions are the best defence for you and your
family.”
