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21 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,A ugust 15,2019 insidehalton.com 1200 Speers Rd., Unit 12, Oakville, Ont. L6L 2X4 (905) 845 - 1408 | Fax (905) 845 - 5931 | ricky@rickywong.ca Ricky Wong CPA, CA, MBA, B. Eng Ricky WongRicky Wong DIAMONDDIDIDIDIDIAMAMAMAMAMONONONDIAMONDONDIAMONDONDIAMONDONDIAMONDONONONONONDDD DIAMONDDIDIDIDIDIAMAMAMAMAMONONONONONONONDDD Voted Best Accountant by Oakville Beaver Readers for 11 Consecutive Years For more information please check our website www.rickywong.ca •Accounting •Auditing • Taxation DE RANGO PHARMACY INC 2501 Third Line | 905-465-3000 Open 24 hours | 7 Days a Week DE RANGO PHARMACY INC 478 Dundas Street West | 905-257-9737 Canada Post www.shoppersdrugmart.ca Fabio De Rango Pharmacist/Owner Voted Oakville's Favourite Pharmacist & Pharmacy • Patient Counselling • Complete Diabetic Care • Home Visits • Consultations • Free RX Delivery • Patient Counselling • Complete Diabetic Care • Home Visits • Pharmacogenetics • Free RX Delivery As the climate warms more Halton residents are coming into contact with ticks and more cases of Lyme disease are emerg- ing. Dr. Joanna Oda, Associ- ate Medical Officer of Health for the Halton Re- gion Health Department discussed the situation re- garding ticks in Halton. She noted the Region has conducted a submit-a- tick program since 2007. This program allows residents who have found a tick on themselves, their pets or who have other- wise come into contact with one, to submit it for identification and testing. "Most ticks submitted to the Health Department are American dog ticks, which do not transmit Lyme disease," said Oda. Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, which they can pass through their bite when they feed on the blood of a person or animal. Oda noted more of these ticks are being found in Halton. "In 2018, a total of 180 ticks acquired in Halton were submitted to the Health Department," said Oda. "Thirty-four (19 per cent) were blacklegged ticks. Two of these tested positive for Lyme dis- ease." Since 2007 the number of ticks submitted by the public to the Halton Re- gion Health Department has been growing from 22 in 2007 to 324 in 2017. The number of black- legged ticks submitted that were actually found in Halton has also grown from just three in 2007 to 37from just three in 2007 to 37f in 2017. A process conducted by the Region called 'tick dragging' is also used to assess the level of risk ticks pose locally. "Tick dragging was conducted for the first time in Halton Region dur- ing the spring and fall of 2018," said Oda. "Tick dragging consists of dragging a white flannel cloth over and around veg- etation where ticks may be present. Any ticks that ad- here to the cloth are identi- fied and tested for tick-fied and tested for tick-f borne pathogens...In 2018, a total of 46 blacklegged ticks were collected through tick dragging. None of these tested posi- tive for Borrelia burgdor- feri, the bacteria thatferi, the bacteria thatf causes Lyme disease." The largest number of blacklegged ticks, 26, was found at the Royal Botani-found at the Royal Botani-f cal Gardens in the fall. Others were found at Mount Nemo Conserva- tion Area, Bronte Creek Provincial Park, Joshua's Valley Park, the George-Valley Park, the George-V town Fairgrounds and Kerncliff Park. Oda said tick dragging was also conducted in spring 2019 and results are expected in August. Why are there more ticks being found in Hal- ton now? The Canada Communi- cable Disease Report (CCDR), a peer-reviewed journal on infectious dis- ease that is published by the Public Health Agency of Canada blames climate change. "Climate warming and other environmental changes have contributed to the expansion of the range of several tick spe- cies into higher latitudes in North America. "As temperatures in- crease in Canada, the envi- ronment becomes more suitable for ticks and the season for tick activity lengthens, so tick-borne diseases are likely to be- come more common in Canada," reads a CCDR ar- ticle. "In addition to Lyme disease, four other tick- borne diseases have start- ed to emerge and are likely to increase: Anaplasmo- sis; Babesiosis; Powassan virus; and Borrelia miya- motoi disease. "Increased tempera- ture increases the survival and activity period of ticks, increases the range of both reservoir and tick hosts (e.g. mice and deer) and increases the duration of the season when people may be exposed to ticks." Based on the results of tick dragging and tick sub- missions from the public in 2018, Public Health On- tario now classifies most of Halton Region as an "es- timated risk area" for Lyme disease. Oda said "estimated risk areas" are locations where blacklegged ticks have been identified or are known to occur and where humans have the potential to come into contact with infected ticks. Despite this classifica- tion, Oda said, the chances of residents coming into contact with an infected tick remains low. Prior to 2017, no ticks submitted to the Halton Region Health Depart- ment tested positive for Lyme disease. That changed in 2017 when two blacklegged ticks found in Halton test- ed positive. Two more blacklegged ticks found in Halton test- ed positive in 2018. While the risk of hu- mans contracting Lyme disease in Halton may be low, it is not zero. Oda noted that in 2018, there were 10 confirmed cases and two probable cases of Lyme disease re- ported in Halton. She said three of these cases resulted from expo- sure to ticks in Halton; while five cases resulted from tick exposure in On-from tick exposure in On-f tario, but outside Halton. Another four cases re- sulted from tick contact outside Ontario. Oda said prior to 2018, there were no confirmed cases where Lyme disease was thought to have been contracted in Halton. Residents are reminded to avoid, if possible, known tick areas (such as wood- ed, brushy or tall grass ar- eas) and stay on trails when outdoors. For additional tips on tick bite prevention, how to remove a tick or how to submit one to the Halton Health Department visit https://www.halton.ca/ For-Residents/Immuniza- tions-Preventable-Dis- ease/Diseases-Infections/ Lyme-Disease. MORE TICKS BEING FOUND IN HALTON By the Numbers: Blacklegged ticks in Halton Source: Halton Region Health Department THREE BLACKLEGGED TICKS WERE FOUND IN HALTON by members of the public and submitted to the Halton Region Health Department in 2007. This number has grown over the years: 2018 TICK-DRAGGED HALTON LOCATIONS SPRING FALL Royal Botanical Gardens 4 26 Lowville Park Mount Nemo Conservation Area 1 1 Bronte Creek Provincial Park 1 6 Joshua's Valley Park 5 Hungry Hollow Trails Georgetown Fairground 1 Halton County Radial Rail Museum Kerncliff Park NOT CONDUCTED 1 2015 8 2016 15 2017 37 2018 34 DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com NEWS 10 CONFIRMED CASES AND TWO PROBABLE CASES OF LYME DISEASE REPORTED IN HALTON IN 2018 Black-legged tick. Torstar file photo Torstar graphic