Protecting Against the Pests of Spring

Early Spring in Canada can mean sunbathing one day followed by shoveling the next. Despair not, for May will come full of flowers, green grass and lots of gardening to be done. Along with the warmer weather, blood thirsty pests such as mosquitoes, ticks and black flies return as well.

If you are a gardener and enjoy working in the coolest part of the day; early morning or evening, you are also favouring the most insect-prone times as well. By covering up and wearing an insect repellant, you can help protect yourself from insects which may carry diseases.

Most commonly found in rural areas on long grass or bushes, ticks can transmit Lyme disease to humans. Lyme disease symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue and a skin rash resembling a red bull’s eye. Sometimes referred to as “the great imitator”, Lyme disease can mimic Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s and ALS.

Avoiding Tick Bites

Wear light colored clothing – ticks will be more visible
Wear long pants and long sleeved shirt
Footwear should be closed and worn with socks
Tuck pants into socks
Use a Deet repellant of 25 per cent, avoiding eyes, mouth and any open cuts
If you own pets, use tick prevention and check them regularly – remove ticks with fine tipped tweezers if found ( do not squeeze)
Use soap and water or rubbing alcohol to clean the bite area

If a tick is removed from an animal or human it can be sent to a local health unit to be evaluated for Lyme disease. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics.

Mosquitoes also present a concern beyond the normal itchy bites. West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes and has been reported across much of Canada from British Columbia to Quebec. The symptoms of West Nile include headache, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea and rash.

People over the age of 50 are at a higher risk of serious health effect, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Although there is no treatment other than over-the-counter pain relievers, serious complications such as long-term muscle weakness and paralysis, fatigue, headache as well as  mental and functional deficits can be a result of infection.

Prevention

Insect repellants containing Deet or Icaridin
Light colored protective clothing
Empty any standing water where mosquitoes may breed
Make sure screens on doors and window fit properly and a free of holes.