WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg mom is warning people to be on the lookout for black legged ticks inside the city.
Marnie Le Page’s daughter Brooke contracted Lyme disease in December, 2014.
“She came home with a headache, a severe head ache and a fever, went to bed, and since that day she’s never been the same,” she said.
She believes her daughter contracted the disease in a rural area just outside Winnipeg.
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The family is part of a support group called Manitoba Lyme Disease that has been monitoring tick populations in Winnipeg.
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“They’re very dangerous so you need to be aware that they’re out there and take precautions,” said Marnie Le Page.
The province has identified several areas in Winnipeg where there are known populations of black legged ticks, the species that carries Lyme disease.
However, the ticks can be found anywhere in southern Manitoba.
“A tick can actually be found anywhere in southern Manitoba because they do get transported by migrating birds, they can drop off,” said Richard Baydack, director of Communicable Disease Control with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living.
To reduce your risk of getting bitten by a tick follow the steps below:
- Use trails, whenever possible, and stay to the centre of hiking trails or paths
- Wear light-coloured long pants and long-sleeved shirts
- Tuck in clothing (pants and socks) to create a barrier
- Use an appropriate tick repellent