Surveillance data shows that there are established populations of ticks in the Outaouais, particularly in the southern part of the region.
The Municipality of Chelsea, La Pêche and Pontiac are considered endemic areas for ticks. This means that the risk of catching Lyme disease is significant. There is also a risk in several other municipalities not considered endemic, including Gatineau, Val-des-Monts and Plaisance. Lyme disease can affect people’s health and quality of life—so it’s important to adopt simple and effective preventive measures.
- Wear a hat, closed shoes and long clothes.
- Tuck your sweater into your pants and the bottom of your pants into your socks or boots.
- Use a DEET or icaridine-based insect repellent according to the application instructions.
- When hiking, preferably walk on trails and avoid tall grass.
When you return from an outdoor activity, examine your equipment and your entire body. Examine your children during bath time.
- Cut tall grass and brush around your home and mow your lawn, especially near children's play areas.
- Remove dead leaves, brush and weeds from the lawn and the edges of wood storage and shed areas.
- Build trails (at least 3 metres wide) of wood chips or gravel between wooded areas and lawns, patios and play areas.
If you see a tick, remove it with tweezers and store it in a tightly closed container.
If you observe symptoms in the months following a bite, such as redness at the site of the bite, fever, headache, fatigue and neck stiffness, consult a doctor and bring the tick with you.