Lyme Disease Risk Increasing with the Return of Warm Weather
In May, Montréal’s Regional Public Health Department released a report noting that with the return of warm weather and greenery comes the return of ticks, leading to an increased risk of exposure to Lyme disease, which is now present across the entire island of Montréal.
Why does this matter?
With the abundance of green spaces across our territory, ticks can spread more easily. A simple outdoor activity could be enough to put you at risk.
Here are a few simple steps to reduce your chances of exposure:
During outdoor activities:
1️. Wear long, light-colored, and covering clothing.
2️. Use insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin.
3️. Stick to clear and marked trails.
After the activity:
1️. Carefully check your entire body — even hard-to-see areas.
2️. Take a shower or bath within two hours of returning indoors.
3️. Inspect your clothing and gear — put them in the dryer on high heat to kill any ticks.
If you are bitten by a tick:
Remove it promptly and keep it in a container. Then call Info-Santé 811 or speak to your pharmacist to see if preventive antibiotics are needed.
To view the report from the Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal, click here (French only)!