New Brunswick's reported cases of Lyme disease stable

Millidgeville in Saint John and North Head on Grand Manan Island are the top two locations in New Brunswickwhere people are at highest risk for contracting Lyme disease, according to data providedto CBC News this week by the province's health department.

Both areas have the largest populations of blacklegged ticks that carry the bacteria that causes the diseasewhich, if untreated, can cause victims to lose the ability to move one or both sides of their face, and experience joint pain, severe headaches and neck stiffness. Some sufferers describe feeling tired for six months.

Other at-risk areas where tick populationsare still emerging but not yet fully established include: the rest of Grand Manan Island, Grand Bay-Westfield, Saint John, Rothesay and Quispamsis.

12% of tick samples have diseasebacteria

The data comes from analyzing blacklegged ticks submitted by the general public to New Brunswick Public Health in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the National Microbiology Laboratoryand other expertswho monitor the insects' occurrence.

"The blacklegged ticks have been submitted province wide but I can say the majority of those submissions are from the southern part of New Brunswick," said Dr. Jennifer Russell, acting chief medical officer of health for New Brunswick.

She said each year 500 to 800 ticks are submitted but only 12 per cent of them have the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi,that causes Lyme disease.

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N.B. has low numbers of reported Lyme disease

On average, there are seven annual cases of Lyme disease reported in the province, which is low just about half of the national average on a per capita basis.

Nationally, there weremore than 700 cases ofLymediseasereported to the Public Health Agency of Canada in 2015. That's a steep increase from 2009, whenthere were 128cases reported across the country.

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Russell said tick submissions have also risen.Between 1994 and 2010 were 300 or less samples. Thatnumber increased after 2010 to the current number.

"Number of tick submissions have increased but that doesn't necessarily mean they [insect populations]are increasing, it might mean there is just more awareness," said Russell.

She said while the number of ticks submitted by the public has increased, the percentage carrying the bacteria for Lyme disease has remained stable.

Ways to prevent tick-borne infection

Russell said the public should take the following measures while enjoying the outdoors in order to protect themselves:

• Wear long-sleeved clothing and long-legged pants.
• Wear closed-toe shoes.
• Use insect-repellent.
• Check yourself for ticks when you come back indoors.
• Check pets as well.