As daylight stretches well into the evening and clouds part to reveal clear sunny skies, trails beckon hikers to venture into the woods and out onto sun-soaked bluffs surrounded by smooth-skinned Arbutus trees.
Waiting on low lying branches and in long grasses underneath are ticks.
A scourge of hikers and pets alike, ticks live off the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. They are carriers of various diseases, the most commonly known being Lyme disease.
Until recently, it was believed Lyme disease did not occur from tick bites received within the province. However, in an information statement, the ministry of health acknowledges that of over 60 confirmed cases in British Columbia at least 20 “had no record of travel outside the province and thus are considered to have contracted the disease within BC.”
A year ago, Wendy Cocksedge was bitten by a tick when she was seven months pregnant with her second daughter. Late at night she discovered the tick, still attached to her body, and went to the emergency department of Powell River General Hospital. “When I went in they were great,” she said, “but I certainly needed to insist they pull it out alive. Although professional, they did not give much credence to the concept of Lyme disease.” The tick was difficult to get out but was removed.
“If I hadn’t pushed it they probably wouldn’t have sent it in for testing.” The tick was tested and found to be negative for the Lyme disease pathogen.
Adult ticks have eight legs and are referred to as large mites. They range in size from one to five millimetres when unfed and can grow up to 20 millimetres when engorged. On the west coast the western black-legged tick is attracted by the presence of deer, sandy soil, hardwoods and the warm, moist climate.
Dr. Paul Martiquet, medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health, confirmed that ticks carrying the pathogen responsible for Lyme disease have been found in the Powell River area. “As people get out and start hiking they expose themselves to ticks and the ticks in Powell River do have the potential to expose people to Lyme disease so it is a concern but it is very rare,” he said. “It is important for people to be tick-aware and dress appropriately so that ticks cannot become attached to them.”
Being tick-aware includes walking on cleared trails whenever possible when in a wooded or long-grass environment. Also, wearing long-sleeved shirts, tucking shirts into pants and tucking pant legs into socks can help.
Ticks are easiest to find when they are feeding. They feed on blood and when attaching to humans may do so predominantly on the scalp or in folds of skin. They are also found on pets. Once they have gorged on blood they drop off. However, sometimes ticks remain on their host for several hours or even days. To feed, ticks bury their mouth into the skin. If left for a long time, the tick may bury its entire body below the surface of the host’s skin.
It is important to remove the tick as soon as possible. BC Centre for Disease Control provides information on its website relating to removal of ticks. The information suggests, “People can use tweezers to gently hold the tick as close to its mouth as possible. Steadily lift the tick off the skin, however, do not squeeze the tick as this can force its stomach contents into the wound and increase the chance of infection. Also, do not jerk, screw or twist the tick because this may separate the body from the head of the tick.” The bite area needs to be thoroughly disinfected after removal of the tick.
Live ticks can be checked to see if they carry the pathogen that can lead to Lyme disease. “If people find they have had a tick on them,” said Martiquet, “take the live tick to public health and we will be able to determine if it carries the pathogen that causes Lyme disease. It has to be alive, that’s important.”
A bull’s eye-like rash that develops around a tick bite is a good indicator that the tick was carrying the Lyme disease pathogen. The pathogen is easily treated, when discovered early, with a course of antibiotics. If left untreated the host may experience some paralysis or, in advanced stages, cardiac problems.
For more information, readers can visit the information file provided by BC Centre for Disease Control.
