News release

Province to Change Tick Surveillance Program

Health and Wellness

The province's tick surveillance program will focus on active field work to identify areas where the tick population is expanding.

Beginning Friday, Sept. 30, officials from the Department of Natural Resources will visit parts of Nova Scotia where multiple ticks have been submitted to look for more. They will also look for ticks on small mammals such as squirrels, mice, moles and chipmunks.

This means that the Department of Health and Wellness will no longer ask the public, veterinarians and physicians to submit ticks to the Department of Natural Resources or the Museum of Natural History for identification and testing under the program.

"I'd like to thank the Nova Scotians who have submitted ticks," said Health and Wellness Minister Maureen MacDonald. "We now have significant data to move our surveillance efforts in a different direction and focus on field work."

Blacklegged ticks, the only ticks that carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease, can be found throughout Nova Scotia, but risk of contracting the disease remains low.

"We have to recognize that ticks are found everywhere and are here to stay, but that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy the great outdoors," said Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Public Health Officer for Nova Scotia. "There are easy things we can do to prevent or reduce contact with ticks."

Dr. Strang advises Nova Scotians to take the following precautions, especially in areas where blacklegged ticks and Lyme disease are known to be established:

  • wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants (so ticks are more visible), light-coloured socks, and enclosed shoes while working or playing outside or hiking in the woods
  • pull socks up over pant legs and tuck in shirts
  • spray clothing and exposed skin with an insect repellant containing DEET
  • check clothing and exposed skin for ticks after working or playing outside or in the bushes or tall grass and remove any ticks attached to the skin
  • keep grass well cut to minimize suitable habitat for ticks on your property.

"Blacklegged ticks can only transmit the bacterial infection after they have been attached to the skin for about 24 hours," said Dr. Strang.

If detected early, Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. The earliest and most common symptom of Lyme disease is a bull's eye rash at the site of the bite. Other symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches and headaches.

If untreated, more serious illnesses can occur, including facial palsy (a weakening of facial muscles) and heart or chronic joint problems. These complications can also be treated with antibiotics.

There have been 67 cases of Lyme disease reported in Nova Scotia since 2002.

Images of the blacklegged tick, instructions to remove ticks and general information on Lyme disease are available at www.gov.ns.ca/dhw .