As we know, ticks infected with the bacteria causing Lyme disease are mainly present in Montérégie and Estrie. But, bad news, the bacteria seems to have crossed the river, because we recently found infected ticks in Laval, in the Laurentians and in Lanaudière. The risks of contracting Lyme disease are still very low, according to the Deputy Director General of Public Health Protection, Yves Jalbert. However, he recommends that people protect themselves from ticks.
–
Transmission of the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease occurs first through mammals such as deer and mice. It is when these infected animals are bitten by a tick that it becomes a carrier of the bacteria, and therefore threatening to humans.
Because ticks are everywhere in Quebec, and it is not uncommon to be bitten by one of them. But it was only recently that infected mammals crossed the river and began to infect ticks on the north bank of the river. It is especially the infection in the tick which progresses in the province, explains Yves Jalbert. As a result, the geographic area where humans can get Lyme disease is also growing.
Fortunately, the risks of contracting the disease remain low, according to Yves Jalbert. The latter specifies that in Estrie and Montérégie, between 1% and 3% of people who are bitten by a tick develop Lyme disease. There is like a notion of bad luck in catching the disease
he says.
Despite everything, Yves Bolduc recommends that the people of Greater Montreal avoid coming into contact with the vegetation, even in his own backyard. It is possible to protect yourself from ticks by wearing long clothes and using mosquito repellents.
He also insists on the importance of inspecting oneself, by sight and by touch, upon returning from an activity in nature. If you remove the tick within 24 hours, the risk of contracting the disease is almost zero
, he specifies.
–
