Lyme in Nova Scotia

Lyme disease the growing illness which is not going to go away.

The black legged tick has established populations in Nova Scotia. This tick was previously called the deer tick and had been only associated with white tailed deer. Research has proven that white tailed deer are not the only carriers of this disease. It is now known that songbirds and mice are largely responsible for the transmission of this tick, which is the carrier of lyme disease.

People in Nova Scotia should take special precautions when in grassy areas as this are where these ticks thrive.

Previously recognized by the medical establishment that you can not acquire this illness in Nova Scotia. Fact is you can contract this illness in most any province in Canada. It is a disease with much controversy. There is the standard blood test, which is being used which is debatable on its accuracy.  The other issue is that of long term antibiotic treatment for the disease. This long-term treatment is very expensive in some cases and can cause many complications associated with this route of treatment.

Although the risk of contracting this disease still appears to be low in our area, since surveillance in our area has just begun. With the findings of the disease apparent it is also suspected that it has indeed been here for a long time.  Our neighbors in the New England states are on high alert to the illness and practitioners are aware of the illness and are taking into consideration the possibility of lyme disease as possible medical diagnoses.

People with lyme disease may appear deceptively well but the fact being quit the opposite. The disease is a bacterial infection .The lyme bacteria, B burgdorferi, penetrate body tissues frequently hiding inside cells or a glyco-protein casing which can be impervious to antibiotics. The bacteria go throughout the body but gravitate to the heart, brain/eyes and joints in particular. Arthritic pain, functional (mental) symptoms such as cognitive and comprehensive disorders and heart problems,. New evidence indicates that the bacteria behind the eyes act as a focal point from which continued "reinfections" can occur.

 There was recently a meeting in Dartmouth Nova Scotia concerning the issues surrounding the disease.  This was a newly formed association of people who have lyme disease and are desperately seeking medical treatment out side of Nova Scotia.

The NDP’s Darryl Dexter has taken a very active roll in helping securing proper medical treatment for all those in Nova Scotia who are presently not receiving treatment in our province.  The NDP have released this media bulletin.

TIME TO TAKE ACTION ON LYME DISEASE: CONRAD Liverpool - Vicki Conrad, NDP Health Promotion and Protection Critic, is calling on provincial officials to finally admit the very real presence and threat of Lyme disease in Nova Scotia. “We have been hearing the stories for several years now of people who have contracted Lyme disease in our province who have met with brick walls getting diagnosis and treatment,” says Conrad. “If a person has Lyme disease the complications get pretty severe if it is left untreated for too long, so this gap must be addressed.” While the US Centre for Disease Control and other Lyme tracking organizations have been stressing the increasing risk of contracting Lyme in Nova Scotia and eastern North America, there is little or no plan to address this health threat and better equip doctors to diagnose and treat Lyme disease. “We know that the tick population is being spread throughout our province and that new populations have been discovered in HRM, for example,” says Conrad. “We need to recognize that Lyme is a real presence here and ensure that no Nova Scotian is denied early treatment before complications set in.” A group of Nova Scotians met yesterday in Dartmouth to express their frustrations at being unable to access a diagnosis or treatment. Some have gone on to prove, at their own expense that they do have Lyme, before they were able to get treatment but complications had set in. Lyme disease is normally treated, in its early stages, with oral antibiotics. Conrad questions, given the relatively simple approach to treating Lyme, why so many patients who suspect Lyme exposure are denied treatment. “It’s time for a better, long-term plan for dealing with Lyme disease. It’s clearly here to stay in Nova Scotia and this government cannot continue to keep it on the back burner.” -30- For more information, contact Ron Sherrard at 478-2032 (e-mail sherraro@gov.ns.ca) Or Lori Errington at 229-6826 (email

Alert   Lyme  Disease Alert www.canlyme.com

A disease we all must learn about. A bacterial infection resulting from a tick bite The ticks which carry Lyme disease live in grass, weeds, forest floors, leaf litter, and bushes.  They are seldom found higher than 18 inches above the ground. They become active when temperatures are -2C (30F) and above. They can come into your home on your pets. Most disease transmitting bites occur from a tick in the nymph stage, when they are only the size of a poppy seed. Many victims do not recall a tick bite. Only a minority of people will get or recall a rash. Prevention New research suggests living by a small patch of woods could increase your chances of contracting Lyme disease. Scientists from several institutions have discovered small forest fragments tend to have more Lyme disease-carrying ticks than larger areas. Although such fragments generally have fewer species than larger wooded areas, some animals actually do better in small forest patches. One such species is the white-footed mouse, which seems to thrive in fragments smaller than 5 acres. This could mean trouble for people living nearby because the mice are one of the main hosts and reservoir of Lyme bacteria, researchers say.  The mice, birds, and pets then transport the ticks to your gardens and lawns. Wear pants tucked into socks and light coloured clothing with long sleeve shirts. Apply products containing DEET as a repellent to clothes and exposed skin. Tick Removal Perform tick checks regularly over the entire body.  They prefer warm moist areas.  Embedded ticks should be removed using fine-tipped tweezers. DO NOT use fingers to pull out ticks.  DO NOT use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products. Grasp the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible with tip of tweezers. With a steady motion, pull the tick's body away from the skin. The bacteria that cause Lyme disease are contained in the tick's midgut or salivary glands. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic.  Seek medical attention immediately…do NOT wait for symptoms.  Early symptoms are flu-like.