Watch out for blacklegged ticks: Sherlock

The number of cases of Lyme disease in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties has declined in the past couple of years.

Program Manager Bill Sherlock told the Hastings Prince Edward Board of Health Wednesday the cases of the disease “spiked” in 2017 but dropped last year.

There has been an increase in locally acquired human cases of Lyme disease.

Hastings Prince Edward has the third largest incidence rates in Ontario.

The numbers peaked in 2017 with 50 confirmed cases and declined to 29 in 2018.

Sherlock tells Quinte News it’s important to get the benefit of walking in the woods but you must be careful of blacklegged ticks which carry the disease.

Last year 96% of the ticks received by the health unit were the blacklegged variety and 23% tested positive for Lyme disease.

Ontario’s Lyme Disease map 2018 shows an area that stretches through Hastings and Prince Edward to Kingston and onward east.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza told the board people should walk mid-trail when walking in the woods, wear light-coloured clothing and check after the walk or take a shower to ensure no ticks are present.

Oglaza says Queen’s University is involved in a program for physicians on responding to and managing Lyme disease, and research is being carried out by three health units.

Sherlock says the health unit knows that Prince Edward County is “endemic” area for blacklegged ticks and therefore the research has moved into Hastings County.