Lambton Public Health (LPH) is warning we could see an increase in mosquito and tick populations.
LPH Health Protection Supervisor Lori Lucas said the milder winters and the warmer than normal spring are contributing factors.
"Ticks are usually active in temperatures anything really above freezing, zero or above, oddly enough they don't like it when it gets really hot, they tend to hibernate a little bit when it's super hot, but the mosquitoes like the warm weather," she said.
According to Lucas, one way to avoid being bitten by a mosquito or tick is to wear repellent that contains deet or icaridin.
She said besides repellent there are other things people can do to protect themselves.
"With mosquitos trying to avoid times when they are most active. That's including being outside at dusk and/or dawn," she said. "Sometimes the type of clothing that people wear can help protect them, such as longer sleeves, closed toe shoes."
She added for ticks you can tuck your pants into your socks.
"If you're walking and you happen to encounter it and it starts to crawl on you, then it's going to come up your pants on the outside instead of the inside," said Lucas.
She is also recommending if you are on a hike to stick to the trails.
Lucas said if you do get bitten by a mosquito and experience severe headaches, muscle weakness, high fever and stiff neck to seek medical attention immediately.
Meanwhile, ticks have the risk of passing Lyme disease.
Lucas said it has to be a black-legged tick and attached for more than 24 hours.
She said if you do find a tick on you it is important to remove it safely.
"Removing it promptly is what we recommend but if someone does have a tick from a risk area and it's been attached for greater than 24 hours than connecting with a health care provider or pharmacist for potential prophylaxis is recommended," said Lucas.
LPH hopes there won't be an increase of either West Nile virus or Lyme disease but Lucas understands the potential is there.
Recently, the health unit was conducting its catch basin larvaciding across the region.
"It's designed to control the mosquito larvae and reduce the incidents of West Nile virus," said Lucas.
