In the summer of 2002, Nova Scotia recorded it’s first known, endemic, human case of Lyme Disease. First recognized in 1975 in Lyme, Connecticut, the disease has since been detected in most of North America, Asia and Europe. In Nova Scotia, the blacklegged tick is the primary vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent that causes Lyme Disease.

Since the discovery of a Lyme-positive blacklegged tick from Antigonish County in July, 2002, I. scapularis has been found wide spread throughout Nova Scotia and is now presumed to be an established member of our local fauna.

A. blacklegged tick larva. B. blacklegged tick nymph. C. blacklegged tick adult.Ticks cannot jump or fly. They live mostly on grass and shrubs. Ticks may attach themselves to animals or people that walk through the grass or brush past the shrubs.

In most cases, the first symptom of Lyme disease is a rash near the tick bite that may look like a bull’s eye target. The bite is often painless, so you may not even know that you have been bitten. The rash usually appears between 7 to 10 days after the bite, but the range is between 3 and 30 days. You may also develop flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, tiredness, stiff neck, soreness all over, and pain or swelling in the joints. These symptoms may appear in stages and may occur over a period of months.

Some tips to protect yourself while geocaching in the outdoors:

Cover as much of your skin as possible.

• Tuck your shirt into your pants
• Tuck your pant leg into your socks
• Wear enclosed shoes

Use DEET on exposed skin or outer clothing.

•     Do not use DEET on children under 6 months

Check yourself after your walk.

• armpits, groin & scalp
• remove ticks from skin promptly and carefully using tweezers

Avoid tall grasses and shrubby areas, favourite habitats of ticks. Keep lawns mowed regularly.

Remove ticks as soon as you find them.

• Carefully grasp the tick with tweezers as close to the skin as possible.
• Gently and slowly pull the tick straight out. Do not jerk, twist, or squeeze it.
• Disinfect the site with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide to avoid other infections.

Note the date and location of the bite.

• Record the date and location of the tick bite.
• Contact your doctor promptly if a rash or flulike symptoms appear.

 

Drop off or mail ticks to your nearest Department of Natural Resources office or to the Museum of Natural History in Halifax. Place the tick in a clean, sturdy pill bottle or film canister. Add a damp tissue to keep the tick fresh. Firmly tape the lid shut. Include your name, telephone number, and details about when and where in the province the tick was found. For example, found after walking through Garden Lots cemetery, Lunenburg County, on June 12, 2006. Mail to: Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, NS B3H 3A6

Sources:

• Province of NS Info Page
• CDC lyme Disease Home Page
• Health Canada Ticks & Lyme Disease