Win32 Virus Removal

The warm weather brings mosquitoes, ticks and other biting insects. A little bit of preparation will make sure bug bites don’t sideline your summer activities.

The West Nile Virus first appeared in Ontario in 2001. The virus is spread by infected mosquitoes. Although the risk of becoming infected is low, preventing mosquito bites is the best protection.

Outdoor Activity Tips

In addition to wearing an insect repellent that contains DEET, you should also:

• Cover up. Wear long-sleeves, socks, closed shoes and a hat.

• Wear light-coloured clothing since mosquitoes are attracted to darker colours.

• If camping or hiking, include bug hats and bug jackets in your outdoor gear.

• Tuck pant legs into your socks and wear elastics on the wrists of your shirt to prevent insects from entering.

• Use a bug tarp or bug shelter when camping to avoid biting insects.

• Ensure your tent is in good repair and won't let in biting insects.

Gardening Tips

• Wear loose, light-coloured clothing when gardening.

• Clear out undergrowth and humus that collects under trees like evergreens.

• Don't leave pots or saucers outside to collect water; empty those that do each day.

• Make sure to turn over your compost pile every few days.

• Prune hedges and shrubs to let in lots of light; dense areas are a mosquito haven.

• Sparsely plant your garden around where you spend time sitting or eating.

• Ensure your reflecting pool has a bubbler or fountain installed; mosquitoes breed in still or stagnant water.

• If you have a pond, make sure that it is deep enough to hold fish, which will eat the mosquito larvae and clean the pond.

• If you have a birdbath, change the water at least once a week.

• Cover rain barrels with a tight-fitting screen and stir up the water in the barrel every few days.

• Think about screening in your porch or gazebo to offer a bug-proof area.

Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks. These ticks cannot fly, but settle on tall grasses and bushes and attach themselves to a person or animal passing by.

If you locate a tick on your body, use tweezers to remove it. Grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible. Pull it straight out, gently but firmly and clean the area with soap and water or alcohol. If you can, save the tick (it doesn’t have to be alive) in a jar or screw top bottle. Take it to your doctor or Public Health for testing. Prompt removal of ticks from your skin will help prevent infection, since transmission of Lyme disease usually requires the tick to be attached for more than 24 hours.

Lyme disease does not pass from person-to-person. However, dogs and cats can carry the ticks into your home or yard increasing exposure of people to ticks. Dogs are also susceptible to Lyme disease although you cannot catch the disease from your pet. Take precautions by using a veterinary approved tick control product. Check your pets regularly for ticks and speak to your veterinarian about how to submit ticks for testing.

Here are several key ways to prevent being bitten by a tick:

• Wear light-coloured clothing. It makes ticks easier to see and remove before they can attach to feed.

• Wear long pants and a long sleeved shirt. Wear closed footwear and socks. Tuck your pants into your socks.

• Use a tick repellent that has DEET (following the manufacturer's directions for use). Apply it to your skin and outer clothing.  Avoid your eyes and mouth, as well as cuts and scrapes.

• Regularly, check your pets for ticks.

• If you frequent areas where blacklegged ticks are established, examine yourself thoroughly for ticks. It is important to do this each day. Pay special attention to areas such as groin, scalp and armpits. Uses a mirror to check the back of your body or have someone else check for you.

For further information call Public Health at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 or visit their web site at

www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca or www.ontario.ca/lyme.

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