Tick season brings increased concerns about tick-borne diseases
Tick season has become a 12 month concern, according to Acadia University professor Nicoletta Faraone.
“As soon as the temperature rises above four degrees, ticks will be active,” said Faraone. “Technically, we can have ticks anytime of the year.”
If you ask Mount Allison University professor Vett Lloyd what worries her most, it’s the number of ticks carrying diseases.
“It is the very rapid increase we are seeing in the chance that a tick is infected with a pathogen and the variety of pathogens,” said Lloyd.
Donna Lugar knows this from personal experience.
“It is not just Lyme disease,” said Lugar who was diagnosed in 2011 with numerous tick borne diseases. Her symptoms were numerous. “Memory and pain. There are so many different things like digestive issues and heart issues.”
Lloyd says in this region, an alarming number of ticks are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
“Nova Scotia is absolutely winning the Canadian contest for the percentage of ticks that are infected,” said Lloyd. “New Brunswick is close behind and PEI is doing its best to catch up.”
As for the species causing the most harm?
“The black-legged tick, which is also called the deer tick,” said Lloyd. “It is the smaller of the two ticks around here and somewhat irritatingly it doesn’t have black legs, it has brown legs.”
Lloyd has simple instructions for tick prevention and detection for humans and pets, especially dogs.
“For people, bug spray works as long as it’s fresh and it works for ticks,” said Lloyd. “For pets, we have lots of products, including edibles or stuff to put on the dog’s neck.”
Lloyd also said people should thoroughly check themselves for ticks after being outside.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.