What if I find a tick?

If you find a tick on your body, remove it as soon as possible. The risk of getting Lyme disease increases with the length of time the tick remains attached to your body.

Since the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Prescott-Russell and Cornwall are now considered an at-risk area for Lyme disease, it is important to contact your doctor if you believe a tick has been attached to you for 24 or more hours, or if you are unsure how long the tick has been attached to you, so that your doctor can determine if you need treatment with antibiotics. Treatment with antibiotics could be considered when:

• the tick has been attached for 24 or more hours or is fully or partially engorged and
• it has been less than or equal to 72 hours since the tick has been removed

If the tick was attached for less than 24 hours and its body does not appear swollen from feeding or if you removed a tick and more than 72 hours have passed, you should still be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of Lyme disease for the next 30 days. If you do develop symptoms, consult your health care provider.

NEW: You can now submit a photo of the tick for species identification, to confirm if it is a blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis or I. scapularis). For more information, visit www.etick.ca.