The ministry of health reminded Saskatchewan residents to be vigilant for ticks on themselves and pets during the autumn.
Blacklegged ticks responsible for causing Lyme disease are rare in Saskatchewan. Introduced by migratory birds in early spring, blacklegged ticks mature into adults and remain active throughout fall, particularly in tall grasses, brush and wooded areas.听
The Saskatchewan government in collaboration with researchers at the University of Saskatchewan launched听听an image-based tick identification platform on April 1, 2020.听
Now, users can submit photographs of ticks found on humans or animals using the new eTick online system in order to receive timely information about the type of tick that bit them (or pets and livestock animals) and the risk of exposure to tick-borne diseases.听
鈥淒ata received through the eTick platform will allow us to monitor the distribution and level of establishment of ticks, specifically blacklegged tick populations and assist in monitoring the risk of Lyme disease across the province,鈥� Consulting Medical Health Officer Dr. Denise Werker said.听
鈥淲hile the risk of Lyme disease is low in Saskatchewan, it is still important for people to take precautions against ticks,鈥� Werker added.
Precautionary measures against ticks include wearing trousers, long-sleeved shirts and shoes that don鈥檛 expose feet.
When walking through long grasses, pull the socks over trouser legs to prevent ticks from crawling up.
Wear light-coloured clothes, so ticks can be easily seen.
Use insect repellents containing DEET or Icaridin. Apply repellent to clothes and exposed skin. Always read and follow the directions.
In Canada, clothing treated with the insecticide permethrin has been approved for use by people over the age of 16.
Shower or bathe as soon as possible after being outside to wash off loose ticks and inspect the body for attached ticks.
Do full body tick checks after being outside on children and pets.
If a tick is found attached to skin or on a pet, carefully remove it with fine-tipped tweezers and grasp the tick鈥檚 mouth as close to the skin as possible then pull slowly upward and out with firm and steady pressure.
Be careful not to squeeze, crush or puncture the body after removal, as this may also contain infectious fluids.
Don鈥檛 apply Vaseline, gasoline, or other noxious substances on an attached tick, which may cause it to regurgitate.
Submit photos of the captured tick using the eTick system and hang onto the tick in case the ministry of health requests further testing.听Ticks can be euthanized by placing them bags and storing in freezers for 24 hours.
In Saskatchewan, most ticks found in the fall are likely to be ticks of interest, such as the blacklegged tick.
The American dog tick is the most common tick found in Saskatchewan 鈥� this species is active from mid-April to the end of July and doesn鈥檛 transmit Lyme disease to humans.听
In Saskatchewan, 3022 ticks were submitted between April and July, 2020.听Only 11 were blacklegged ticks and of the six tested to date, three were positive for the bacterium causing Lyme disease.
for more information on ticks and Lyme disease, including how to submit a tick for Lyme disease testing, or go to .
