The Porcupine Health Unit is asking the public to be cautious as the presence of blacklegged ticks has been confirmed in the area. The ticks are known to carry Lyme disease. Symptoms are flu-like and can take hold anywhere from three days to a month after a bite. Doctor Lianne Catton says the area near Timmins has been identified as a low-risk but is asking residents to keep an eye out.
Wearing light coloured clothes, using insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin and checking yourself, your children and your pets will all go toward reducing your risk.
The health unit is asking anyone who does find a tick on themselves or anyone else to remove it immediately and bring it to their local health unit for testing.
Click here for more information on preventing tick bites
(Written by: Greg Rosser)