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There are those who live in P.E.I. who think just because there are no deer in the province there are no deer ticks, which are now known as black-legged ticks or Ixodes scapularis. There are also rabbit ticks, groundhog ticks, wood ticks and dog ticks with these common names because of the host they are usually found on. The ticks are carried in by migrating birds and parachuted in with an estimated 363 different species of birds sited on the island. Ticks are not fussy as they are just looking for a blood meal and it could be your pet or you.

In 2018 Dr. Vett Lloyd at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.S., did a yearlong study on black-legged ticks on P.E.I. working with local veterinarians. They received well over 400 ticks from across P.E.I. with 98 per cent being black-legged ticks capable of transmitting Lyme disease. The ticks were tested with anywhere from eight to 16 per cent showing positive depending on location. The lab also tested blood samples from dogs across the Island with seven showing they were infected with the Lyme disease bacteria and six of those had never left the Island. The numbers will only increase in the future.

Tick checks should now be part of life for those living on P.E.I. as it is already for those in many parts of North America and around the world. The problem is only going to grow so we must be prepared to do what we can to prevent getting infected.

There are already double-digit numbers of people with Lyme disease on P.E.I. seeking help in the USA. It is hard to say how many others may have a vector-borne disease and not know it.

For more information check out canlyme.com. There are Lyme support groups on the Island and for more details, you can contact Chris Robinson at canrisk_economics@yahoo.ca or call 902-628-9831.

It is important to have knowledge as this is how we can help avoid infection.

Brenda Sterling-Goodwin

New Glasgow, N.S.