Everyone tends to spend a lot more time outside during the summer months, even the bugs! Mosquitos, fleas, spiders, bees, wasps and ticks come out in full force during the summer—and their bites not only hurt, they can transmit disease.
“The most common bug-related illnesses in Alberta are Lyme Disease from ticks and West Nile virus from mosquitos,” says Calgary Emergency Management Agency Deputy Chief Sue Henry. “Protect yourself and your family by using insect repellent and covering your skin with clothing, especially in the forest.”
Most mosquitos and ticks in Alberta do not carry West Nile Virus or Lyme disease, but knowing the signs and seeking treatment quickly can reduce complications of the disease. Early signs of Lyme disease and West Nile virus are similar and include, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, among other things and you may or may not develop a red mark and swelling at the area of the bite.
If you are travelling outside of Alberta, be sure to research the likelihood of these and other diseases in the area you are going to. Beyond packing protective gear, you may want to look into special vaccinations for certain areas. The Government of Canada posts updated travel health notices for regions around the world.
To learn more about how to protect yourself against summer bug bites and diseases, visit myhealth.alberta.ca. To learn more about how to prepare for an emergency, find out what the risks are in Calgary, and take the Calgary Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Calgary course, visit calgary.ca/getready.
