Tests underway on ticks found in Shelburne

The kind of tick known to transmit Lyme disease has been found near Shelburne.

The Department of Health Promotion and Protectionsaid Thursday that provincial surveillance teams have collected 20 blacklegged ticks from the Gunning Cove area. The ticks are being tested for the bacteria that carries lyme disease and results are expectednext week.

Dr. Richard Gould, medical officer of health, said the findings may indicate that these ticks are permanently established in the area, though he cannot know for sure until tests are completed.

"In many cases, these clusters don't pan out to be anything because ticks are occasionally dropped off birds in Nova Scotia, as well as many places in Canada," Gould told CBC News.

Still, he said he wasn't shocked to find out that ticks may exist in the Shelburne area since they are found in other parts of the province.

Most of the 12 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in Nova Scotia since 2002 have come from the Lunenburg area. Blacklegged ticks are also known to exist in Admiral Cove in Bedford.

Lyme disease is a serious illness caused by the bite of an infected tick. However, a tick can only transmitthe disease once it has been attached to the skin for nearly 24 hours.

Early symptoms include a circular rash surrounding the bite. Other symptoms that may follow are:

• Chills.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Muscle and joint pain.
• Swollen lymph nodes.

Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics. If left untreated, later symptoms such as facial palsy, heart problems or chronic joint pain may develop.

Health officials advise Nova Scotians to protect themselves when walking outdoors in the Gunning Cove area by:

• Wearing light-coloured clothing so ticks are more visible.
• Minimizing skin exposure.
• Using an insect repellant containing DEET.
• Checking clothing, skin and pets for ticks after working or playing outside or in the woods.
• Cutting grass to minimize tick-friendly environments.

Health officials say there have only been four reported cases of Lyme diseaseaffecting people in Nova Scotia since2002.