Lyme disease is caused by bacteria. It is spread through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, also known as a deer tick. The Government of Ontario provides more information on Lyme disease and how to identify a blacklegged tick.
What to do if you are bitten by a tick
Remove a tick as soon as possible to reduce your risk of infection. Bring the live tick to Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) in a sealed container. We will only accept ticks that were attached to humans.
- Use tweezers and carefully grab the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Don’t squeeze the tick! If the Lyme disease bacteria is in the tick it can get pushed into your body. Don’t put anything on the tick or try to burn it off.
- Pull it straight out, gently but firmly.
- Place the live tick in a screw-top bottle or hard sealed container (not a plastic bag) and label it with your name, the date and the location the tick was collected.
- Gently clean the bite area and tweezers with soap and water and/or rubbing alcohol.
- Bring the tick to your doctor or to SWPH.
- If you can’t bring in the tick immediately, you can store it in a container for up to 10 days. Store live ticks in the fridge and dead ticks in the freezer.
- Contact a health care provider if you notice fever, chills, headache or the bull’s eye rash after being bitten by a tick.
Online tick identification
eTick is a free electronic tick identification service available online or by downloading the mobile eTick app. Send in a photo of your tick and an expert will identify it within 48 hours. They will contact you with the results and provide the necessary public health information. View all the ticks eTick has identified on their public tick map.
Information for health care providers
Avoid picking up a tick
Ticks like areas with tall grass and bushes. They get on people who walk through these areas. Ticks cannot fly or jump.
- Wear long sleeves, pants and fully closed boots/shoes in tall grass, wooded areas or marshlands
- Tuck your pants into your socks
- Wear light-coloured clothing to spot ticks easier
- Use a bug spray with DEET as directed on the label
- Do a tick check after walking in an area where ticks might be
- Shower and towel off to remove any ticks that might not be attached, and then check underarms, neck and groin area
- Be aware of Lyme disease risk areas in Ontario