Global TV, Toronto: The move to ‘active surveillance’ to fight Lyme disease
Near Kingston, ON- For the first time Kingston, Frontenac and Lennon & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health Region is taking matters into its own hands by dragging for ticks, or ‘active surveillance.’
“Lyme disease has become established now in Eastern Ontario. This was not a concern 10 years ago and now it is a health concern,” said Dr. Ian Gemmill, Medical Officer of Health, KFL&A.
The move to active surveillance came after a meeting with officials from different health regions right across eastern Ontario.
We have our staff going out to various areas in our health area and dragging along the ground for ticks to see if we can find them, where they are and what portion of them in a specific area are infected,” said Gemmill. “We plan to plot this on a geographical information system so we can watch this into the future and be able to inform ourselves and the public about whether this is a disease that is continuing to be a health concern, whether its receding or if its moving and revolving.”
What a fantastic idea! Every province should be doing this. Where do we sign up?