Blacklegged ticks examined as Canada experiences increase in Lyme disease cases

As Lyme disease cases continue rise in Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador's top veterinarian is keeping an eye on the ticks that spread the bacteria.

Dr. Hugh Whitney is most worried about blacklegged ticks because they can pass along Lyme disease to people and pets.

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This province is considered isolated because only some dogs are at risk of getting the disease, but Whitney said people should be on the lookout for the blood-sucking creatures. 

"We do feel that they are increasing, and certainly these ticks are now living permanently in Nova Scotia and the closer that front gets to us the more that we expect to arrive on migratory song birds," said Whitney.

"So I would expect our numbers to increase over the years."

Of the 30-40 ticks examined last year, about 20 per cent carried the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

"Most of what we get is off of dogs and cats, but we have had ticks submitted to us that came off of people. That can happen."

Whitney doesn't know of any cases where humans contracted the disease in the province, but he knows of two cases locally in which a dog was bitten.

He said it's hard to say how many more blacklegged ticks the province has because his department relies on the public to submit the ticks once they find them. 

Whitney notes just because you have a tick on you it doesn't mean you'll get Lyme disease, adding the tick must be embedded in the skin for 36 hours or more.

"Unless it has a chance to take a blood meal off of you, then it's not a risk of spreading the disease."

Whitney said this province has the lowest risk for the disease.