I read an article recently that I found very interesting. It was an interview in Psychology Today – https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/patient-revolution/202402/how-you-can-hack-your-own-healthcare-and-upgrade-your-life. The author, Ryan Prior, interviewed Susannah Fox, who wrote “Rebel Health: A Field Guide to the Patient-led Revolution in Medical Care. Although I haven’t read the book yet, I hope it opens the eyes of people who are making health decisions without actually speaking and listening to those intimately affected. Although this has nothing, and everything, to do with Lyme Disease Awareness Month, I wanted to open with this and ask people to think about the fact that Lyme and Tick-Borne diseases seems to be an area, at least in Canada, where decisions are frequently being made without including the input of those with lived experience, and/or keeping them in the loop as to what is happening. Why?

Now on to what is happening in Nova Scotia for Lyme Disease Awareness Month. First of all, I am happy to advise that the Province has, once again, proclaimed May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. This is great; however, there usually isn’t much fanfare about it. Since COVID, the proclamation has not been read in the Legislature. They also have not done a Press Release in the past to help get the word out. It seems to be up to myself and others personally dealing with the issue to share on social media. If you can, please help get the word out.

I am also very happy to advise that there will once again be two flag-raisings for Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Both will occur on May 2nd in Halifax. The first is at 8:30 am in Grand Parade at Halifax City Hall. The second will be at 10:00 am at Province House. Would love to see lots of people in attendance. It is very difficult to convince the powers that be that this is an important issue when only a few people attend these events. As far as I can determine, we are the only place, in the world, to have flag-raisings for Lyme Disease Awareness Month. How cool is that?

I have also started receiving responses back from municipal units throughout the province that will either be proclaiming May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month, or will at least have the topic on their Agenda for possible approval. As well, at least five properties will be lit lime green for all, or a portion of, May:

• Province House, lime green for one night, May 2nd, to coincide with flag raising
• Halifax City Hall, lime green for one night, May 2nd, to coincide with flag raising
• Municipal Services Building, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, first week of May
• New Glasgow Town Hall will be lit for most, if not all, of the month of May
• Town of Bridgewater Tower Window will be lit lime green the first week of May

As I hear back from more locations I will continue to update the information.

Another way I try to raise awareness during the month of May is to “dress” my house in lime green. Last year I purchased a Lyme Disease Awareness Month garden flag to ensure my neighbours know exactly why I have added lime green accents for the month. It may only reach a few people, but even if it helps just one person to remember to take the necessary precautions, then it has done its job. Please consider dressing your house, and/or yourself, with a touch of lime green for the month of May and let people know why. Share widely on social media.

I will also be tweeting daily facts about ticks and tick-borne diseases during May. If on Twitter, please like, comment, share, etc.

This time of year tends to be the time that some people, although well intentioned, will share incorrect information on tick removal, the erythema migrans (EM) rash, etc. The federal government has a good video regarding tick removal – https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/video/lyme-disease-properly-remove-tick.html. This is a good infographic from the CDC regarding possible EM rashes – https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/NCEZID_rash_poster3r1-508.pdf. The better known bull’s-eye version of the EM rash is actually seen in only a small percentage of cases. Other types are more common. As well, not everyone gets (or sees) a rash.

If looking for a Lyme prevention video, the Lunenburg Lyme Association had two made in 2019:

• For children, by children – https://youtu.be/wLO9eddH5es?si=V9KyNn1XemA_rZx7
• For everyone – https://youtu.be/IorSOPnAnZw?si=QE5i1gCnG8Nx-3kT

If you are out and about and see the new provincial Tick Awareness signage at provincial parks, please take a photo and share. You would be surprised how many people don’t take the issue seriously and do not undertake preventative measures when they are out and about in nature. All of Nova Scotia is considered endemic and Nova Scotia has the highest rate of Lyme in Canada. It also has one of the highest rates in all of North America. Everyone needs to take it seriously.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month is also a good time to obtain signatures on our petition (previous post). In this regard, someone much more computer savvy than I has been able to provide a link to the petition to make it a bit easier to print it off – https://drive.google.com/file/d/101FpHegvu5OoHZCriuFS0pwl–UUmzLE/view. Please do not alter it in any way. Alternatively, you can email me at donna.lugar@outlook.com and I can mail you some copies or the link. Once you have obtained as many signatures as you can you can contact me to make arrangements for me to receive them.

Please don’t forget, as well, that we have a Change.org petition (https://chng.it/6GJj52y2ts) as well in order to obtain comments on why people are signing. Although the online petition cannot be submitted, the comments will be very helpful.

We will hopefully be having other events over the next little while so I will keep updating this post.