With a return to seasonal temperatures expected by the long Victoria Day weekend, Lambton Public Health is reminding residents that mosquitoes and ticks won't be practicing physical distancing like the rest of us.
Residents are being urged to take precautions to limit the spread of Lyme disease and the West Nile virus.
Tips include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and completing visual checks for bugs during and after outdoor activities.
Lambton Public Health said it's also important to reduce standing water around your property to limit mosquitoes from breeding and monitor rainfall for flood conditions.
Those with private wells should have them tested three or four times annually, including the springtime.
Lambton Public Health said it provides free, well-water testing options to prevent and reduce water-borne illnesses related to drinking water.
Health Protection Supervisor Lori Lucas said while Lambton Public Health monitors for the presence of Lyme disease and West Nile virus in our community, it no longer accepts ticks for testing.
"If you find a tick on yourself, take precautions to safely remove it and submit a photo to eTick.ca for tick identification," she said. "The website has public data and a map showing the types of ticks and where they were found across Canada."
Learn more about Lyme disease here and the West Nile virus here.
