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Fight the bite: Tips to deal with mosquito and bee stings this summer

CTV News

6 days ago

General
CTV News

Fight the bite: Tips to deal with mosquito and bee stings this summer

The sunshine and warm temperatures this week may be having you spending more time outdoors, but it has also brought out the insects. Eastern Ontario medical officer of health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis dropped by CTV Morning Live to discuss tips to keep the bites from mosquitoes, bees and spiders at bay this summer. Mosquito bites Dr. Roumeliotis said 'aside from being annoying,' mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus. 'West Nile Virus is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito and can cause anything from a mild cold to brain injury. That's why we tell people to be careful of mosquitoes,' Roumeliotis said Wednesday morning. 'If you're going outside and you know that you're prone to mosquito bites, you can get the DEET.' He warns that children tend to have more aggressive reactions to mosquitoes, and their whole arm or face can swell. Dr. Roumeliotis says these are the signs of a mosquito bite and symptoms to watch out for: An itchy bump a few minutes after a mosquito bite A painful spot (hive) within 24 hours Large, swollen, red area where the bite occurred Swelling around the eye If you are bitten by a mosquito, the doctor recommends applying calamine lotion, rub an ice cub over the spot or take an oral antihistamine. 'If you get bitten by a mosquito and you don't get a reaction right away, you put heat on it,' Dr. Roumeliotis said, sharing a tip he received from a professor. 'It will actually deactivate the bite, and it won't really cause the bump.' To protect yourself while outdoors, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit offers the following tips: Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods or when mosquitoes are most active Use mesh bug jackets or hats Use mosquito netting or screened structures when sleeping outdoors Bee stings 'Bee stings are painful, and it causes sharp, burning pain and discolouration around the sting,' Dr. Roumeliotis said Wednesday morning. 'If you have a local reaction, you treat it with ice, calamine, (or) an antihistamine. If you have symptoms beyond the bite, for example, and you have difficulty breathing, that's a sign you're allergic to the bee sting itself. It's an emergency; you need to get emergency treatment and need an EpiPen for the future.' Systems to watch out for if you're stung by a been includes a sharp, burning pain, skin discolouration surrounding the sting, swelling and itchy sting. If you are stung by a bee, Dr. Roumeliotis recommends cleaning the wound, placing an ice pack on the area and taking an antihistamine or pain medication. You can also apply calamine lotion to the found. Spider bites Dr. Roumeliotis says you won't find poisonous spiders in Ottawa and eastern Ontario 'I'm talking about the run-of-a-mill spiders you get here.' The signs and symptoms of a spider bite to watch out for are a painful blister surrounded by a red skin colour. 'It's not a bite, it's not itchy; it's painful,' Roumeliotis said. If you suffer a spider bite, you're recommended to clean the bite area with warm water and soap, apply a cold washcloth to the area and take an antihistamine or over-the-counter pain reliever.

Tips to protect yourself from ticks this summer in Ottawa and eastern Ontario

CTV News

21-05-2025

Health
CTV News

Tips to protect yourself from ticks this summer in Ottawa and eastern Ontario

Eastern Ontario's top doctor is urging people to be 'tick aware' and protect yourself from tick bites when outside in backyards and the woods this spring and summer. The Eastern Ontario Health Unit warns tick-borne diseases are transmitted through a bite from an infected blacklegged tick. Medical officer of health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis told CTV Morning Live you will now find ticks closer to home, saying 'it's actually everywhere in Ottawa.' 'Ticks, ordinarily, like forests and woods, but a lot of people live off a forest or a treed area and they can climb into your backyard,' Roumeliotis said. 'It's important to be aware you have to be tick aware in your backyard, so tick proofing it – that's the important thing.' The most common disease caused by ticks is Lyme Disease, but ticks can also carry other diseases. 'The best way is to prevent ticks from coming into your area and knowing what to do if you get a tick on you, on your child and even on your pet,' Roumeliotis said. Ticks are most active in the summer months, but officials warn they can appear any time of the year when the temperature is above the freezing mark. Dr. Roumeliotis spoke with CTV News Ottawa about what you need to know about ticks. Size of ticks Dr. Roumeliotis says ticks are initially very small. 'The babies are like sesame seed size,' Roumeliotis said Wednesday morning. 'If they latch on to somebody, they'll suck the blood and they'll engorge and become the size of an apple seed and even to the size of a small coffee bean. Once they engorge on you, it's not hard to see them.' 042325_ticks lyme disease grand bend london miller A black-legged tick burrows into a person's arm (File Photo) What do I do if I'm exposed to a tick? The Eastern Ontario Health Unit says tick bites are 'usually painless,' and you may not realize you have been bitten. Roumeliotis says if you have been exposed to a tick for more than 24 hours, remove it immediately. You should also disinfect the area where the tick was removed from. 'Seek medical attention after you remove it because if it is carrying Lyme Disease, we will then give you antibiotics for a couple of days to prevent it from occurring in the first place,' Roumeliotis said. If a tick has been attached to you for less than 24 hours, the medical officer of health says you can remove it and 'don't worry about it.' The Eastern Ontario Health Unit recommends being on the lookout for signs and symptoms for the next 30 days. Removing a tick Dr. Roumeliotis says the best way to remove a tick is with tweezers. 'Go sideways, get (the tweezers) as low as possible to the skin, pinch (the tick) and pull it up,' Roumeliotis said. 'Do not twist, do not squeeze. Once you have it, you put it in alcohol, disinfect it, put it in a bag and you can throw it away.' Signs and symptoms of Lyme Disease Dr. Roumeliotis says Lyme Disease is a bacteria that the tick gets from biting a deer. 'It basically bites you and sucking your blood, it can actually inject the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease,' Roumeliotis said. 'Lyme Disease can be quite dangerous. It can cause symptoms ranging from pneumonia to skin rashes to even brain problems, that's why it's important for us to be aware.' Symptoms of Lyme Disease usually occur within three to 30 days after a tick bite. You may see a circular, red rash that may look like a 'bull's-eye,' according to officials. The health unit says symptoms of Lyme Disease may include: fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pains, stiff neck, fatigue, swollen glands and facial paralysis. How to avoid tick bites The Eastern Ontario Health Unit offers the following tips to keep ticks off you when outdoors: Wear light-coloured closing Wear closed footwear, socks, a long-sleeved shirt and long pants Use an insect repellent that has DEER or lcaridin on clothes and exposed skin Walk in the centre of cleared paths or trails Search your clothes and body for ticks after being outdoors The health unit recommends tips to discourage the presence of ticks around your home:

Eastern Ontario Health Unit confirms 2 cases of measles

CBC

09-05-2025

Health
CBC

Eastern Ontario Health Unit confirms 2 cases of measles

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) has confirmed two cases of measles in the region, the first since an outbreak began in the province last October. The two people contracted measles during travel outside the region and are in isolation, the EOHU said in a statement on Friday. The two people are related and one was not vaccinated against measles, while the immunization status of the other is not known. People who may have been exposed to these confirmed cases of measles have been contacted, the EOHU said, adding that the risk to the wider public remains low. People, particularly those born in or after 1970, should check their vaccination record to ensure they are protected. Two doses of a measles vaccine are considered full protection. "I am taking this opportunity to remind parents to make sure their children's routine immunizations are up to date, as immunizations are the best defence against measles. If you or your child are not up to date on your vaccinations, please contact your health-care provider to receive missing immunizations," said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the EOHU. "The measles vaccine is safe, effective, and greatly decreases the chances of catching measles and bringing it home with you." For more information, people in the region can contact the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or 1-800-267-7120 from Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The EOHU covers more than 5,000 square kilometres of eastern Ontario, serving approximately 200,000 people in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Prescott-Russell and the City of Cornwall. The EOHU does not include the City of Ottawa, which has its own health unit.