Tick exposures in New Brunswick are currently more than double the three year average. According to the provincial tick bite tracker, residents face a significant increase in encounters with ticks carrying Lyme disease and other illnesses.

The Maritime provinces see higher exposure rates due to climate change and increased moisture. Ticks remain active all year but peak during the cooler and moist weather of spring and fall. If you live in the Saint John region, you are in the highest risk zone in the province.

Lyme Disease Cases Climb

Last year, New Brunswick hit a record high of 212 diagnosed Lyme disease cases. So far this year, doctors have diagnosed 57 people with the disease. This number reflects only the early part of the spring tick season.

Vett Lloyd is a researcher at the Mount Allison University Lloyd Tick Lab. She notes a massive jump in cases over the last decade.

“We’re seeing at least a tenfold increase over the past 10 years,” Lloyd told CBC News. “So there are a lot more people getting Lyme disease and will be getting the disease.”

The Threat of Anaplasmosis

Lyme disease is not the only threat. Anaplasmosis is another illness spread by blacklegged ticks, and cases are rising sharply. New Brunswick public health reports 10 diagnosed cases so far this year, a significant jump from previous years.

Anaplasmosis progresses much faster than Lyme disease. The parasite invades red blood cells and bursts them, causing sudden and extreme fatigue. An infected person goes from healthy to completely incapacitated in a very short time.

“If you don’t get to the ER at that point, you’re gone,” Lloyd said.

How to Protect Yourself

Both Lyme disease and anaplasmosis require timely treatment with antibiotics. Prevention remains your best defense. You need to use bug spray and perform regular tick checks after spending time outdoors.

Blacklegged ticks are incredibly small. In their larval stage, they are the size of poppy seeds. At the nymph stage, they grow to the size of sesame seeds.

“You strip down at least once a day and have a real close look at yourself,” Lloyd advised. “Your freckles should not have legs on them.”

Widespread spraying programs are not an option. Ticks are eight legged creatures in the spider family. Spraying chemicals to kill ticks also kills all spiders, which leads to an explosion in mosquito populations and other harmful insects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the symptoms of anaplasmosis?

Anaplasmosis causes sudden and extreme fatigue. The parasite attacks and bursts red blood cells, requiring immediate emergency medical attention.

Where is the highest risk for ticks in New Brunswick?

The southernmost parts of the province, including the Saint John region, carry the highest risk for tick encounters and Lyme disease.

How do I prevent tick bites?

You prevent tick bites by applying bug spray before going outside and conducting thorough, full body tick checks every day.

Why doesn’t the province spray for ticks?

Spraying for ticks causes severe ecological damage. The chemicals kill spiders, which naturally control the populations of mosquitoes and other pests.