Lyme disease bacteria confirmed in Waterloo Region ticks
Posted Jun 16, 2026 04:12:48 PM.
Last Updated Jun 16, 2026 04:31:05 PM.
The tick population is surging in Ontario, increasing the risk of exposure to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Region of Waterloo Public Health issued a statement on Tuesday, confirming blacklegged ticks are present in the region and some have tested positive for the Lyme bacteria. Residents are being told to take precautions to protect themselves while spending time outdoors.
Dr. Megan Davis, Medical Resident, ROW Public Health, offered some advice,
“Simple ways to help reduce your risk of tick bites are to stay on trails, wear protective clothing, and use insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin,” Davis said.
She went on to say it’s important to check yourself, kids and pets after being outdoors. The quicker people are able to remove a tick, the less likely they are to be exposed to tick-borne illnesses.
Dr. Davis pointed out that a tick infected with the Lyme bacteria needs to stay attached to a person for at least 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease.
ROW Public Health has some tips to help safely remove a tick:
- Use fine-pointed tweezers to grab the tick’s head and mouth as close to your skin as possible.
- Pull slowly. Do not twist or rotate. Try not to damage it
- Place the tick in a sealed bag or a container with a lid.
- Thoroughly wash the area where you were bitten with soap and water.
- Submit a photo of the tick to eTick.ca, a free service that will help to identify the type of tick within 48 hours. Region of Waterloo Public Health does not accept ticks for identification or testing.
If people are unable to identify the tick or are sure it is a blacklegged tick, they should contact their health care provider, particularly if they feel unwell.
It’s important to note that Lyme disease symptoms can appear from three days to one month after exposure.
The region has a host of information available about Lyme disease, tick safety and how to perform a tick check.
