Students and faculty from Mount Allison University have developed a new website to provide more information about ticks and Lyme disease in the Maritimes.
Their research has shown many ticks are being found throughout Southern New Brunswick.
Professor Dr. David Lieske says it’s a natural experiment designed to raise more awareness.
“By releasing this information anyway, we can give health providers and provincial planners… give them some insights into these emerging problem areas and build everyone’s awareness of this organism,” he notes.
Since 2012, Lieske says members of the public and veterinarians have been submitting ticks for testing at Mount Allison’s lab.
Lieske says milder winters in the region mean that ticks can often survive year-round which will only make life easier for the organism in the future.
An interactive map, future projections and other tick-related resources can be found at www.maritimetickmaps.ca
(IMAGE courtesy Maritime Tick Portal)