The NB Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jennifer Russell says Queens and Sunbury counties are now high-risk areas for blacklegged ticks, which can cause Lyme Disease.
“In a certain area, if they find a certain number and they are in a certain part of the life cycle then that means there is a population that is endemic in that area”, says Russell.
Ticks hide in plain sight. Protect against the diseases they spread by checking yourself after coming in from outdoor . #BeTickSmart. For more information please visit https://t.co/Vo8eXANaPF pic.twitter.com/ikJ5Q96h9y
— N.B. Dept. of Health (@NBHealth) October 2, 2018
People need to be tick smart as well “Walk in the middle of the trail, as opposed to the tall grasses, wear long-sleeved clothing, close-toed shoes and make sure you wear insect repellant”, stated Russell.
You should bathe or shower within two hours of being outdoors, and check your body for ticks.
If you have been bitten, remove it, if you develop symptoms of Lyme Disease, seek medical attention.
Click here for more information on ticks, and click here for the high-risk counties map.
(photo courtesy of the Public Health Agency of Canada)
