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CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
‘Up tick' in cases: Rising threat of Lyme disease in central Ontario
With summer in full swing many are outside enjoying the weather around Simcoe-Muskoka, and while the weather is nice, more residents are reporting finding ticks on them after a day outside. Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health and CEO of Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), said tick cases continue to increase. 'In 2023, they had 1,800 cases of Lyme disease just over that figure. And that's gone up about six-fold over a decade. So that shows you the trajectory, the upward swing of this and here in Simcoe Muskoka, we had 47 cases in 2024,' Gardner said. Lyme Disease and Symptoms A tick can be as small as a poppy seed and grow depending on how long the bug is latched onto someone's skin. A tick can also carry diseases like Lyme disease. 'Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by a tick. Blackleg tick, to be precise, and has been becoming more and more common in southern Ontario, specifically, here in Simcoe Muskoka, over the last two to three decades,' Gardner noted. If a tick is latched onto a person's skin it could take weeks for symptoms to develop, including a rash where the tick was. 'You can also develop broader symptoms, such as a fever, muscle aches and pains, joint inflammation, perhaps a stiff neck,' explained Gardner. 'If it remains longer, 30 days or more, you can end up with paralysis of the lower portion of your face, something they call a Bell's palsy that can be on one side or both sides, It can have inflammation of the heart, can develop something called a heart block with a slowing of the heart, arthritis and some neurological symptoms as well, inflammation of the brain, so it's quite serious as it progresses on.' The medical officer of health advised seeking medical attention if a tick has been latched longer than 24 hours. Prevention There are ways to help reduce the risk of a tick latching onto a person, including staying out of heavily weeded or long grass and covering yourself if you are outdoors in similar areas. Checking yourself and children is also heavily recommended. 'Typically, you take a device, tweezers and basically you're clamping at from the mouth parts that are right in - going into the skin and carefully with firm pressure, pulling it out so that you get it out entirely,' said Gardner. Ticks and Pets While tick cases are trending upwards in Simcoe-Muskoka, they are also becoming more common in pets. Dr. Virginia Cornell, veterinarian at Aldergrove Animal Clinic in Barrie, said the increase in ticks on dogs is increasing. 'The per cent of tick-transmitted disease that we're seeing this year has increased, probably about 400 per cent over what we saw in previous years.' She added that ticks are becoming larger in size and with climate becoming warmer there is no die-off. Unlike humans who can show symptoms over a few weeks, it's a different scenario for dogs. Symptoms in Pets 'If you don't find the tick right away on your dog, you probably aren't going to notice the symptoms yourself until your pet starts to show signs,' said Cornell. 'Vague signs of illness, and you end up here seeking medical attention as the symptoms could vary anywhere from your pet, just not feeling well. We might notice a fever. We might notice joint swelling or lameness.' During walks, dogs should avoid heavy brush and long grass. There are also vaccines to help your pets which Cornell said can be treated year-round. Tick Removal 'The most common place that you're going to find ticks are around the face, neck, feet area,' said Dr. Cornell. 'So, check well and if you find a tick, remove it right away. And then if you know that your pet has had a tick bite, a tick exposure about six to eight weeks later, bring your pet in for blood testing so we can see if your pet was exposed to any of the diseases that ticks can transmit.' When removing the tick, its important to remove the tick completely without killing it. 'Ticks are known to regurgitate as they die and the pathogens that they carry are usually contained in their saliva and their stomach contents, so you don't want to kill the tick during the removal process,' said Cornell. Once the tick is removed safely both Gardner and Cornell emphasized the importance of taking a picture of the tick and submit it online so it can be categorized by species and location where it was found.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
West Nile virus testing begins across Simcoe Muskoka
Mosquito bites are a common nuisance in the summer months, causing itchy, red flaming bumps, on the skin. As the pesky-mosquito season returns, the local health unit is preparing to launch its annual West Nile virus (WNv) surveillance program. Health officials with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) will begin setting mosquito traps and monitoring larvae. This year, catch basin larviciding will take place in Barrie and Bradford. The goal is to gather early data on mosquito populations and figure out which species are active, and test for the presence of West Nile virus. 'The mosquitos are collected and submitted to a laboratory for species identification and viral testing,' said officials from SMDHU. A demonstration of one of the mosquito traps is taking place at Little Lake Park in Barrie on Tuesday. The health unit will show how the traps work and explain their role in tracking mosquito activity. From now until Oct., 31, licensed technicians will be applying a pesticide to municipal catch basins to keep mosquitoes from turning into virus-carrying pesky bugs. Buzz off, avoiding mosquitoes To reduce your exposure to mosquitoes, SMDHU encourages you to boycott breeding sites around your home or cottage and take personal measures to prevent getting those itchy mosquito bites. Typical symptoms of the virus include fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, confusion, severe headache, and sudden sensitivity to light, and very rarely, can cause severe neurological issues. What is West Nile virus? West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. While human infections from West Nile virus remain rare, the health unit continues to emphasize prevention. Mosquitoes become infected after feeding on infected birds, and the virus can be passed on to humans through bites. Most people show no symptoms, but in rare cases, WNv can lead to serious illness, like encephalitis, meningitis, or muscle paralysis. Confirmed cases in Simcoe County Last year, the region saw two confirmed human cases of West Nile virus following laboratory results in the month of September. The health unit does not release information about those involved for privacy reasons. Related Stories
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Health officials encourage parents to get kids caught up with vaccinations this summer
Local health officials are encouraging parents to get their kids up-to-date with their vaccinations this summer. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) sent letters to parents of students in Grades 2 and 3, born in 2016 and 2017, this month notifying them about required immunizations. 'If you received one of these letters, summer is a great time to catch up,' the health unit stated. 'With summer camps and group activities just around the corner, keeping children protected against preventable diseases is more important than ever,' said Dr. Colin Lee, SMDHU associate medical officer of health. 'Camps provide great experiences, but they also mean kids are in close contact with other kids, which can increase the risk of spreading illness. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to prevent serious diseases like whooping cough, meningococcal meningitis and measles.' Families requiring immunizations can books an appointment with their health care provider, or those without a family physician can book an immunization appointment at SMDHU offices located in their community. Immunization records can be checked and updated online. 'It's important to ensure your child's immunization record is up to date. If your child has received vaccinations outside of the health unit, you must submit this missing information,' the health unit noted.
Global News
6 days ago
- Health
- Global News
Hepatitis A exposure at Barrie Tim Hortons restaurant
A health unit north of Toronto is running special hepatitis A vaccination clinics this weekend, after a staff member at a popular eatery contracted the disease. People who purchased food and drinks from a Tim Hortons in Barrie, ON in recent weeks may have been exposed to hepatitis A and are being advised to receive post-exposure vaccinations. Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) confirmed that a food handler at a Tim Hortons located at 181 Livingstone St. E., Barrie, has been identified as contracting hepatitis A. Anyone who came into contact with food or drinks at that location between May 17 and June 3 may have been exposed to the virus, the public health unit said, adding that there is no ongoing risk at the restaurant. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by a virus that is spread through the consumption of fecal matter. It is primarily contracted through direct contact with an infected person, but can be passed on by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Story continues below advertisement While the risk for customers to contract the disease is low, SMDHU advises monitoring for signs and symptoms, which can begin 15 to 50 days after exposure. Those who consumed food or beverages from this Tim Hortons in the last 14 days are recommended to receive the hepatitis A vaccine to help prevent the disease. Individuals who have received two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine or have previously had hepatitis A infection will have immunity from the disease, and do not require further vaccination. Date food or drink was purchased from Tim Hortons at 181 Livingstone St. E., Barrie Last date to receive post-exposure immunization 30 May 2025 from 6 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. June 13, 2025 31 May 2025 from 4:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. June 14, 2025 1 June 2025 from 4:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m. June 15, 2025 3 June 2025 from 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. June 17, 2025 SMDHU is running a special hepatitis A immunization clinic in Barrie at 15 Sperling Dr. until Tuesday, June 17.
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Health officials warn about potential Hepatitis A exposure at Barrie Tim Hortons
Health officials are warning the public about a potential Hepatitis A exposure from a Barrie Tim Hortons. According to officials with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), a food handler working at the coffee shop at the corner of Livingstone Street East and St. Vincent Street has been identified as a confirmed case of Hepatitis A. Health experts say the risk for customers to contract the disease is low, but say they should monitor for signs and symptoms, which can appear 15 to 50 days after exposure. 'There is no ongoing risk at the restaurant,' SMDHU confirmed in a release Friday. 'The restaurant is fully cooperating with public health, and it's important to know that this situation could happen anywhere.' Date and time food or drink was purchased from Tim Hortons - 181 Livingstone St. E., Barrie Last date to receive Hepatitis A vaccine to prevent disease May 30, 2025 from 6 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. June 13, 2025 May 31, 2025 from 4:30am-12:30 p.m. June 14, 2025 June 1, 2025 from 4:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m. June 15, 2025 June 3, 2025 from 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. June 17, 2025 The health unit recommends those who consumed food or drinks from this Tim Hortons to get a Hepatitis A vaccine within 14 days of exposure and contact your health care provider. The health unit will host a Hep A immunization clinic for those who may have been exposed at the Tim Hortons at 15 Sperling Drive in Barrie. SMDHU Hepatitis A immunization Clinic - 15 Sperling Drive, Barrie Date Time Fri., June 13 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sat., June 14 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sun., June 15 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon., June 16 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. Tues., June 17 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. Anyone who was at the Tim Hortons between May 17 and May 29 is no longer eligible or recommended for a post-exposure immunization. Instead, the health unit asks you monitor for symptoms and contact a health care provider if necessary. Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus that spreads through contaminated food, drinks, surfaces or close contact with an infected person. Symptoms include fever, loss of apetite, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine or clay-coloured stools, diarrhea, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. 'People who are older, have weakened immune systems, or have chronic liver disease are at higher risk of severe illness,' SMDHU concluded.
