Disease-carrying ticks are showing up earlier in B.C., and in greater numbers
Ticks are showing up earlier and in greater numbers in B.C., spreading pathogens such as the one that causes Lyme disease. Cases of that have gone up nationwide by more than 5,000 since 2009. CBC medical columnist Melissa Lem explains what you need to know.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Disease-carrying ticks are showing up earlier in B.C., and in greater numbers
Ticks are showing up earlier and in greater numbers in B.C., spreading pathogens such as the one that causes Lyme disease. Cases of that have gone up nationwide by more than 5,000 since 2009. CBC medical columnist Melissa Lem explains what you need to know.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
If you've been bitten by a tick, follow these 5 steps
Thanks to the current hot weather, many of us are spending more time outdoors enjoying the garden, parks and countryside. If you're in grassy areas or woodland, however, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning to look out for ticks. The organisation recently posted on X telling people to be tick aware and gave guidance on what to do if you're bitten. "Summer's a great time to get outside, but ticks love the outdoors too," read the tweet. "If you're walking through grassy or wooded areas, take a look at our guidance to help you stay safe and #BeTickAware." Here's what you need to know about ticks, where they're most commonly found and what to do if you get bitten. Ticks are small, spider-like creatures that feed on the blood of people and animals. They vary in size and can be as small as a poppy seed, or as large as a baked bean after they've fed on blood, according to Lyme Disease UK. They're found all across the UK, mainly in grassy areas and woodland, but they've also been found in parks and gardens and often wait on blades of grass for an animal or human to brush past so they can feed. Ticks are most active in spring, early summer and early autumn, but it is possible to be bitten at any time of year. While not all ticks carry infection, some do, so it's important to be tick aware. According to the UKHSA, during feeding, ticks can transmit pathogens that may result in tick-borne infections such as Lyme disease and, in rare cases, tick-borne encephalitis. It's estimated that around 4% of ticks are infected with Lyme disease in England and Wales, but this can vary. Some years it can be as high as 8-10% in certain areas. If you're bitten by a tick, the UKHSA suggests the following five-step approach: Remove ticks as soon as you see them – use a tick removal device or a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. You can buy tick removers from many pharmacies, pet stores and outdoor shops. Remove the tick by grasping as close to the skin as you can – pull upwards firmly to ensure you get the whole tick out. Clean the bite and surrounding area with soap and water – you should also keep an eye on it for a few weeks to look for any changes. Look out for a spreading bullseye rash – this may typically develop between three and 30 days after being bitten and is a common symptom of Lyme disease. See your GP or call 111 if you feel unwell within a few weeks of being bitten – you may experience flu-like symptoms, a spreading circular rash, nerve pain or drooping of the face. Tick bites are usually painless so if you feel unwell and have spent a lot of time outdoors, you should also contact your GP. There are also a number of precautions you can take to avoid being bitten. These include: Take insect repellent that works for ticks and a tick remover tool out with you (you can also get tick prevention for dogs, which your vet should be able to advise on) Avoid walking through long grass Wear long sleeves and tuck trousers into socks Wear light-coloured clothing so you can spot ticks and brush them off quickly Shower and do a tick check on kids and pets when you get home, paying particular attention to children's ears and hairline Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread by a bite from an infected tick. It's not known exactly how many people in the UK have Lyme disease but in 2024, the UKHSA estimated there are 1,500 laboratory confirmed cases a year and 1,000–2,000 more cases diagnosed clinically. Some of these cases are caught overseas. According to the NHS, early symptoms can include a circular or oval rash, which may look like a bullseye. The rash can appear up to three months after being bitten but usually shows up in the first four weeks. You may also get flu-like symptoms a few days or weeks after being bitten by an infected tick. It's easier to treat Lyme disease in the early stages, so if you're at all worried about a bite or any symptoms, make sure you seek medical advice. If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause health issues which may include pain and swelling in the joints, or problems affecting the nervous system and heart. Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral infection spread by tick bites. It's much rarer than Lyme disease in the UK but can cause flu-like symptoms and in a few people, the NHS says the infection may spread to the brain. If you feel unwell in the weeks following a tick bite, make sure you seek medical advice. Is it heatstroke or heat exhaustion? How to tell the difference – and when it's serious (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) 6 hot weather health mistakes a doctor wants you to stop making (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read) How to spot 'toxic' giant hogweed plant and treat any burns (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Invasive tick species found in Berrien County
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The first in the state have been found in Berrien County. Calvin University researchers found the two ticks during routine surveillance at Grand Mere State Park, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. 'Calvin research students have been studying the ecology and distribution of ticks in West Michigan since 2020,' said William Miller, assistant professor of biology at Calvin, in a statement. 'The students worked with our close partners at Michigan State University and collaborating state agencies to initially identify these ticks as nymphal longhorned ticks.' The ticks were sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories, according to MDARD. On Wednesday, they were confirmed to be Asian longhorned ticks. City crews to start oak wilt treatment at Aman Park The ticks are native to east Asia but were first found in New Jersey in 2017, according to MDARD. In the following years, they have spread to more than 20 other states. Females can lay up to 2,000 eggs at a time. The ticks have been known to form large infestations on a single animal, according to MDARD. This can stymie the animal's growth, and in severe cases, the blood loss can even kill the animal. Officials say these ticks are not known to carry Lyme disease, but they can cause diseases that impact humans and animals, like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Powassan virus and heartland virus. Outside of a lab, MDARD says Asian longhorned ticks collected in the U.S. haven't been confirmed to carry these diseases — but they have been found to carry a pathogen that causes bovine theileriosis. That's why experts are especially concerned about how these ticks can affect livestock. If you have animals, you're urged to take preventative measures. MDARD says you should have your animals treated regularly, check your animals often for ticks and keep your lawns and pastures mowed and clear of brush. If you find what you believe to be an Asian longhorned tick, you can send it to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. You can find . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
