By Kaitlyn Clark
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—The Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit (HNHU) has reported that the previous Lyme disease endemic area, which focussed on Long Point and Turkey Point in Norfolk, has a spreading risk area that has entered Haldimand.
The new risk area includes the western border of Haldimand, including Hagersville, Jarvis, and Nanticoke, along with a large area in the east centred around Dunnville. Haldimand’s risk still appears to be lower than that original core however, as there were 127 deer ticks, which can carry Lyme disease, found in 2018 and only nine of these were found in Haldimand. In comparison, 89 dog ticks, which do not carry Lyme disease, were found in Haldimand.
Female deer tick
Female dog tick
“In general, the more ticks and higher positivity rates were found at sites that were closer to the endemic areas,” said Kwesi Douglas, Program Manager of Environmental Health in the HN Health and Social Services Division, adding that 31.5% (40/127) were positive for Lyme disease.
Three cases of Lyme disease were reported in Haldimand Norfolk in 2018, which is actually down from seven cases in 2017 and five in 2016, and all three were from Norfolk.
Cases of West Nile Virus (WNV), which is carried by mosquitos, saw a “significant increase by comparison to five years prior” with six cases in 2018, two of which were in Haldimand, and one of which was fatal. However, Douglas said this isn’t necessarily a trend: “2012 also had increased WNV activity (five cases), yet years prior and following 2012 had low activity. Given the 2018 mosquito season being hot and wet, the weather likely played a significant factor in increasing the mosquito population, viral amplification, and subsequently increased infection rates.”
West Nile can be difficult to track however, as those who were infected in 2018 were not in the areas that were found to have mosquitos testing positive by the HNHU, and it is possible three of the infected may have picked it up outside the area. Five of 59 testing sites saw positive mosquitos in Simcoe, Caledonia, Dunnville, and Cayuga.
Regardless of where they are, residents are encouraged to take precautionary measures to avoid ticks and mosquitos, thereby limiting their chance of exposure to Lyme disease and WNV.
Find some tips on how to avoid these insects below.
