Lyme Disease agent identified for first time in province

Public health and animal health officials from the Departments of Health and Community Services and Forest Resources and Agrifoods said today that the organism responsible for Lyme Disease in humans and in animals has been identified for the first time in this province in a tick.

Lyme Disease is caused by an organism called a spirochete which is spread through infected tick bites. A tick is a small, wingless bug, similar to a spider or mite, and feeds on the blood of mammals and birds. It can attach to any exposed part of the body after walking through grass or brush where ticks may be found.

Dr. Hugh Whitney, provincial veterinarian, said: "A tick carrying the Lyme Disease spirochete was found on a dog in the Cape Broyle area. The dog in question has no symptoms of Lyme Disease. To date, there are still no known cases of illness in domestic animals acquired in this province."

Dogs are the most commonly affected of domestic animals with symptoms including fever, loss of appetite and unexplained lameness.

Dr. Faith Stratton, chief medical officer of health, said there have been no human cases of Lyme Disease acquired in this province, however, a number of cases have been diagnosed in persons who have contracted infection outside the province.

While it may appear to be a mild disease initially, Dr. Stratton said human cases of Lyme Disease can result in serious medical complications in humans if not treated. Symptoms usually occur one to two weeks after being bitten by an infected tick and begin with an enlarging red area of the skin at the site of the bite. Other early symptoms include fever, headache, neck stiffness, malaise and general muscle and joint aches and pain. If not treated, the disease can spread to affect other areas of the body such as the nerves and heart. Treatment with antibiotics will cure the infection.

People can reduce their exposure to tick bites by wearing protective clothing (long sleeves and legs covered) and by applying insect repellant containing DEET when travelling in areas where ticks may be present.

Officials are advising the general public that if they should discover a tick either on their body or on their pets, that they should remove it carefully with a pair of tweezers, being cautious not to leave pieces behind which would likely cause infection. 

In addition, persons who believe they have found a tick on themselves or their animal should place the tick in a small container with moist cotton and send it to officials so that proper testing and identification can occur. "This process is important in helping us determine the breadth of the tick population in this province, and in determining if any of the ticks are carrying Lyme Disease," said Dr. Whitney. Ticks can be submitted to local public health or health inspection offices, local conservation officers or the provincial veterinarian's office at 709-729-6879.

Further information on Lyme Disease can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/agric.

Media contact: Sonia Glover, Forest Resources and Agrifoods, 709-729-6183
Karen McCarthy, Health and Community Services, 709-729-2788

2001 08 28                                                  11:30 a.m.