The Ottawa Citizen recently reported that Eastern Ontario is experiencing a tick population boom - reporting the highest rates of Lyme disease in the province. There have been 186 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in South-East and Eastern Ontario in 2025. Ottawa has had 48 cases in 2025 to date, but this could be higher due to lags in reporting and data entry.

It's more important than ever to protect yourself while enjoying the outdoors this summer. Here are some tips from the CAFES team:

• Stay on the trail: Stay on designated hiking trails and don't wander off, especially into tall grass!
• Wear long pants tucked into socks: Cover your skin so that ticks can't attach themselves by wearing long pants tucked into socks. You can also spray insect repellant with DEET on exposed skin or clothing to further ward them off!
• Do a full-body check when returning from the outdoors: To avoid the risk of Lyme disease, ticks must be removed within the first 24 hours. Do a full body check when returning from the outdoors to check whether you've picked up a tick. Make sure to check your pets too!

If you find a tick, it's crucial to remove it as soon as possible. Ottawa Public Health recommends using fine-pointed tweezers to grasp the head and pull slowly until it's removed. If the tick is partially engorged or may have been attached for over 24 hours, seek medical attention. Your local pharmacist can likely prescribe medication for tick exposure.

If you may have been exposed to a tick, monitor yourself for symptoms of Lyme disease. You can find a full list of signs and symptoms at Ottawa Public Health, but the most recognizable symptom is a circular red rash expanding around the bite area.

Having a tick removal kit provides you with everything you need to remove ticks and send them off for inspection. You can buy these kits at local pharmacies or order online from Canadian Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, and CanLyme.