Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Southwestern Public Health Logo

Contact Us
A - Z TopicsNewsroomLocations and HoursContact Us1-800-922-0096
  • Classes, Clinics and Services
    • Dental Clinics
    • Food Handler Certification
    • Immunization Clinics
    • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Needle Exchange Program
    • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Quit Smoking Workshops
    • Sexual Health Clinics
    • TB Skin Testing
    • Tick Identification
    • Well Water Testing
  • My Health
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
    • Dental Health
    • Immunization and Vaccines
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Nutrition
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    • Physical Activity
    • Sexual Health
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
  • Community Health
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
    • Environmental Health
    • Food Safety
    • Health Inspect
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Road Safety
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking
  • Partners & Professionals
    • Child Care Centres
    • Educators
    • Food Service Operators
    • Health Care Providers
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Recreational Facilities
  • Reports & Statistics
    • Community Health Status
    • Evaluations and Situational Assessments
    • Evidence Reviews
    • Health Inspect
    • General Reports
    • Position Statements
    • Surveillance Dashboards
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate Culture and Values
    • Events Calendar
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Locations and Hours
    • News and Media
    • Performance and Accountability
    Click to view About Us
    About Us

Ticks and Lyme Disease

HomeMy HealthVector-Borne DiseasesTicks and Lyme Disease
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
black legged deer tick on a green leaf

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

  • Lyme disease quick reference for health care providers
  • Lyme disease notification form

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
Subscribe to page updates
My Health
  • Vector-Borne Diseases
    Toggle Section Vector-Borne Diseases Menu
    • Ticks and Lyme Disease
    • West Nile Virus
  • View Full My Health Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
      Toggle Section Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco Menu
      • Alcohol
      • Cannabis
      • Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange
        Toggle Section Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange Menu
        • Naloxone
        • Opioid Monitoring
        • Needle Exchange Program
      • Smoking and Vaping
        Toggle Section Smoking and Vaping Menu
        • Health Effects of Tobacco and Smoking
        • Quit Smoking Workshops
        • Vaping
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
      Toggle Section Animal Bites and Rabies Menu
      • Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
      Toggle Section Child and Family Health Menu
      • Breastfeeding
      • Child Safety
      • Healthy Babies Healthy Children
      • Parenting
        Toggle Section Parenting Menu
        • Babies 0-12 months
        • Toddlers 1-3 years
        • Preschoolers 3-5 years
      • Postpartum Mood Disorders
      • Preconception and Pregnancy
      • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Dental Health
      Toggle Section Dental Health Menu
      • Children and Youth 0-17
      • Seniors 65+
    • Immunization and Vaccines
      Toggle Section Immunization and Vaccines Menu
      • Immunization at Every Age
      • Immunization Exemptions
      • Immunization Records and Reporting
      • Immunizations in Schools
        Toggle Section Immunizations in Schools Menu
        • Grade 7 Immunization Program
      • Immunization Clinics
      • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Infectious Diseases
      Toggle Section Infectious Diseases Menu
      • A-Z List of Infections
      • Common Childhood Infections
      • COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
        Toggle Section COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Menu
        • COVID-19 Assessment Centres
        • COVID-19 Resources for Community Settings
        • COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers
          Toggle Section COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers Menu
          • COVID-19 Testing Guidelines
        • COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres
        • COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers
        • COVID-19 Vaccine
        • Face Coverings
        • State of Emergency and Stay-At-Home Order
      • Influenza (Flu)
      • Preventing Infection
      • Tuberculosis
    • Nutrition
      Toggle Section Nutrition Menu
      • Healthy Eating
      • Local Food Programs and Services
      • Reducing Weight Bias
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
      Toggle Section Personal Safety and Injury Prevention Menu
      • Bike Safety
      • Child Safety
      • Concussions
      • Falls Prevention
      • Sun Safety
    • Physical Activity
      Toggle Section Physical Activity Menu
      • Free and Low-Cost Activities
      • Physical Activity in Schools
      • Physical Activity Guidelines
      • Physical Literacy
      • Walking, Biking, Hiking
    • Sexual Health
      Toggle Section Sexual Health Menu
      • Birth Control
      • Cervical Cancer Screening (Pap Test)
      • Pregnancy Testing and Options
      • Safer Sex
      • Sexual Assault and Violence
      • Sexual Health Clinics
      • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Contact Us

Work with Us

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) values our people! We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.

Learn More

Southwestern Public Health footer logo

Southwestern Public Health strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a scent free environment.

  • Classes, Clinics and Services
  • My Health
  • Community Health
  • Partners & Professionals
  • Reports & Statistics
  • About Us

Links:

  • Accessibility
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer and Terms of Use
  • Location and Hours
  • Privacy Statement
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback
Scroll to top of page

© 2020 Southwestern Public Health

Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.