Coping with ticks 

Don’t be scared, be prepared  

Coping with ticks 

By Jennifer Humphries 

Ticks are surging in Ontario this year – experts say over 40 per cent more Lyme-disease carrying ticks have been reported in 2026 compared to this time last year. 

So, should you increase efforts to prevent being bitten? The answer is a resounding Yes, based on recent data and on my own family experience.  

Last summer, my daughter Rebecca did her usual biking and hiking in the woods but began feeling weak and struggled to recover from even light exercise. Through the autumn, she experienced a range of symptoms including leg and arm spasms, numbness in legs and face, dry mouth and eyes and left chest pain that radiated down her arm. It was eventually diagnosed as Lyme disease, but it was a long process. But more on that later; first, a look at why the risk of having problems like Rebecca is getting higher every year.  

Scientists warn that due to climate change, ticks are advancing north from the U.S. at a rate of 50 km a year. The worry used to be almost exclusively Lyme disease, but ticks carry many more pathogens. The lone-star tick, for example, carries an infection which produces a severe allergy to meat (Alpha-Gal syndrome), and it is increasingly seen in eastern Ontario.  

Some sufferers have co-infections – that is, Lyme plus other pathogens. Ontario Public Health tracks confirmed cases of a few tick-borne diseases (Lyme, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and Powassan virus). However, the testing in the province fails to detect many cases, so the true numbers are likely substantially higher. 

To lower your risk, see my tips in the accompanying box, and beware of myths about ticks: 

“Everybody gets a red bull’s-eye around a bite.” No. That happens only about half the time.  

“Everyone sees the tick that bites them.” No. A tick can attach to an area that’s not easy to see, and some tick nymphs are the size of a sesame seed. 

“Ticks are only found in the deep woods.” No. There are ticks in cities, possibly in your lawns and gardens. 

What happens if you are bitten? 

If you find a tick that you suspect has been attached for 24 hours or more, remove it and take it in a sealed container to a pharmacist or doctor and get a dose of Doxycycline. The time it takes to get infected is usually said to be 36 to 48 hours, but it is now believed to be as little as 15 minutes.  

If you haven’t found a tick but suspect a bite based on symptoms, get a blood test. However, a negative test is not conclusive. Current testing in all provinces is understood to be accurate only half the time, and it doesn’t cover all possible pathogens. If you believe you are positive despite a negative result, you could ask your doctor for another test and 10 days of antibiotics. 

Lived experience 

When my daughter was first tested for Lyme, the result was negative. Through networking, we found Jennifer Kelly who had experienced similar symptoms. She strongly recommended that Rebecca have testing done internationally at a specialized lab. She did so, and the diagnosis came back positive for Ehrlichiosis, a known Lyme co-infection.  

Kelly had her own struggle with Lyme disease. It took two years for her to obtain a diagnosis following a suspected tick bite while she was working in the UK in 2019. Back in the Ottawa Valley, she struggled to find medical professionals who took her symptoms seriously. She eventually had her blood tested for Lyme at a lab in Germany. The result was positive, but she still faced major hurdles finding an Ontario doctor who would treat her. After two years, her symptoms progressed to the point she needed high doses of antibiotics. She still has flare-ups.  

We also found Sarah Young, a Glebe resident whose partner runs the Centre for Health Innovation in Centretown, where they work with Lyme patients. While she notes that the medical system has not caught up with tick-borne illnesses, some Lyme-aware naturopaths and doctors can provide treatment and coping strategies. Thanks to Young, Rebecca is seeing a doctor knowledgeable about Lyme and related illnesses and is on a good path to health. 

Until the medical community becomes more aware and until a vaccine is developed, don’t stop getting out into nature, just be careful. 

Jennifer Humphries is a member of the Glebe Community Association and its Environment Committee, and a believer in getting out into nature, with appropriate health measures. 

Tick Bite Prevention Tips 

Use repellent, like DEET or Icardin. Some essential oil blends also help. 

Stay on paths, avoid long grass and undergrowth. 

Wear long pants and tuck them into your socks. Light-coloured clothing helps you see ticks and flick them off before they bite. 

Putting clothes into the dryer for 10 minutes kills ticks.  

If you find a tick that has not attached, flick it off.  

Do a daily inspection of any pet that spends time outdoors. Your dog can be vaccinated or take preventive medicine against Lyme disease, but a tick on it could find its way to you. 

Do a “tick check” after hiking or biking, even after gardening.  

If you find a tick attached to your body, follow removal steps on many websites, like Health Canada. Our family has found tweezers work better than a tick key. 

Check Health Canada for more ways to stay safe while enjoying nature.