The Durham Region Health Department said it is currently not able to accept tick submissions for identification and potential testing.
In an announcement, it said if you find a tick crawling or feeding on you or a family member, keep the tick and call the Durham Region Health Department and a public health inspector will call you to advise you what to do.
“If you have any symptoms related to Lyme disease contact your health care provider immediately for advice about treatment,” it said.
Lyme disease is a bacterial illness that affects people and animals. It is spread by the bite of an infected tick.
There are many different types of ticks. Currently, in Ontario, only the black-legged tick can spread Lyme disease. Not all black-legged ticks are infected. Lyme disease cannot spread from person to person, it added.
Black-legged ticks
Black-legged ticks are usually found in or near wooded or forested areas, in leaf litter, or on bushes and tall grass.
Ticks need blood to survive and they can become infected when they feed on infected wild animals such as birds, rodents or deer. Only then can they spread the infection to humans or pets.
Black-legged ticks are very small. Immature ticks can be the size of a poppy seed and adults the size of a sesame seed.
They often attach to areas of the body where they are hard to see, such as the groin, armpit and scalp.
Ticks cannot fly or jump. Instead, they climb onto grasses or bushes and wait for a host (person or animal) to brush by. A tick will quickly attach and then find a suitable place to bite.
Watch our public health inspector discuss how to get tick smart and protect yourself.