New eTick Website Launched in Ontario to Prevent Lyme Disease
Written by Communications, April 15, 2019
Local Residents Can Now Submit Tick Photos Online for Species Identification
Lyme disease prevention just got easier thanks to a new website that allows local residents to submit photos of ticks they find and receive confirmation if it belongs to the species that carry Lyme bacteria.
“Not all ticks carry Lyme disease, so the first step is always species identification when a tick is discovered,” explained Wanda Tonus, Public Health Inspector. “This website makes it easy for residents to determine if they’ve found a blacklegged tick, the only species that carries the bacteria. Then they can then submit the insect to Peterborough Public Health for testing to see if it’s infected with Lyme disease.”
The eTick website www.etick.ca was originally developed in Quebec by Bishop’s University, and is set to launch in Ontario this month. It allows anyone with a cell phone to snap a photo of a tick and upload it directly to the website to receive a species identification. Once successfully submitted, the results will be available within 48 hours. Real-time mapping of tick submissions is also shown on the website.
If the tick is identified as the blacklegged species, residents are encouraged to bring it in to Peterborough Public Health as soon as possible. Place the tick in a sealed container or ziploc bag and bring it to Client Services on the third floor of 185 King St., Peterborough. Last year Peterborough Public Health received 195 tick submissions, with 95 confirmed as the blacklegged species. Of these 95, seven tested positive for Lyme disease, however only one of these positive ticks was acquired locally.
Peterborough Public Health encourages the public to take extra precaution during the warm months to prevent tick bites, especially in areas that are forested or have tall grasses, weeds or many shrubs. Some precautions include:
- Wear long clothing when outdoors. This includes long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks. Shirts should be tucked into pants and pants tucked into socks.
- Wear light coloured clothing. Ticks are more visible on light coloured materials. This will help you see and remove the tick.
- Use an insect repellent containing DEET. Apply insect repellent sparingly to your clothing and exposed skin to keep ticks away. Do not apply bug repellent under clothing and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- When hiking be sure to keep to the middle of the trail to minimize your contact with tall grasses and bushes. These are potential spots where ticks can be found.
- Check your clothing and entire body for ticks after returning from being outdoors. Pay special attention to hidden areas like the groin, armpit, scalp, and back of the knee. You can use a mirror to do this or have someone help you.
- Check pets for ticks because pets can also pick ticks up from outdoor areas. Although Lyme disease cannot be passed from a pet to a human, animals can bring ticks into your home. It is important to check your pets regularly.
- Take a shower as soon as you can after being outdoors to wash off any ticks crawling on you.
- Place outdoor clothing through the dryer cycle for 60 minutes on high heat before washing. Ticks thrive in wet environments and will not survive the heat of the dryer.
A tick can be submitted to Peterborough Public Health Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on tick submission or general inquiries about ticks please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca or call 705-743-1000.