It’s the end of Lyme Disease Awareness Month, but awareness and tick prevention needs to continue all year. Lots of information included in this post. I did a similar one a couple of years ago, but it is slightly different. These were also posted daily on Bluesky and included in a post on Facebook.

Feel free to copy/paste one or more, or share it all.

1. Did you know that the bull’s-eye rash is seen in only a small % of Lyme cases? Other types of erythema migrans (EM) Lyme rashes are more common – https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/media/pdfs/Wall-poster-The-Many-Forms-of-Lyme-Disease-Rashes-Erythema-Migrans.pdf.

2. Everyone should know how to properly remove a tick – before you have to – http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/lyme-disease/removing-submitting-ticks-testing.html.

3. Due to tests that are not 100% accurate, Lyme is supposed to be a clinical diagnosis. This document is to help doctors, and patients, diagnose in a more timely manner – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6908481.

4. The IDSA Lyme Guidelines, which drs are usually told to follow, have a Note advising that following the guidelines is voluntary – http://www.idsociety.org/practice-guidelines/lyme-disease. Almost at the end of the document.

5. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. Lyme disease is supposed to be ruled out. How, when tests are not 100% accurate – https://mscanada.ca/intro-to-ms/diagnosing-multiple-sclerosis.

6. Prevention is key when it comes to tick bites. Here are some helpful suggestions – https://youtu.be/IorSOPnAnZw?feature=shared and https://www.Canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/ticks-tick-borne-diseases/prevent-tick-bites.html.

7. Lyme carditis is when the Lyme bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, attacks the heart. Cases climbing. Dr. Adrian Baranchuk has been trying to raise the alarm – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30765038/ and https://www.cmaj.ca/content/190/20/e622.

8. “Because neurologic involvement in Lyme disease is so common, recognition and timely treatment should be encouraged” – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10146759/ and https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/features/acr-2021-session-rheumatologists-lyme-disease-tick-borne-illnesses/.

9. It’s not just blacklegged (deer) ticks and not just Lyme that you need to worry about – https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/about/index.html and https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/in-depth/tick-species/art-20546861.

10. Anaplasmosis cases are steadily climbing. Learn more – https://www.Canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/ticks-tick-borne-diseases/anaplasmosis.html and https://www.cfp.ca/content/71/10/623.

11. Due to their size, the fact that they may secrete an anesthetic before biting, and their preferred warm & moist feeding locations, many people do not know they were bitten. Symptoms vary – https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs-symptoms/index.html, https://restorativehealthclinic.com/wpcontent/uploads/2017/11/Horowitz_LymeDiseaseQuestionnairev.pdf.

12. The Lunenburg Lyme Association assisted in having this video made by seniors in Lunenburg in 2019 – https://youtu.be/Hy2G94hcSOI?si=MnpbtkWBFN_XMsh7. Worth a watch, especially if in NS. Info still lacking.

13. The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) created a Vector-Borne Diseases E-Resource – https://vbd.casn.ca. It’s free & can be used by anyone wishing to learn more.

14. My WordPress blog, “Shining the Lyme Light”, includes a considerable amount of information. I am not as prolific a writer as I would like, but I do try to update older ones – https://shiningthelymelight.com.

15. The Nova Scotia Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Association has a new website – https://www.lymens.ca. A work in progress. Let us know what you would like to see included.

16. There may come a time when employees blame their employer for their illness due to lack of information/protection. FYI – Permethrin treated uniforms/gear helps – https://cupe.ca/ticks-and-tick-borne-illnesses and https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/outdoor-workers/about/tick-borne-diseases.html.

17. There are measures that can help reduce ticks in your yard -https://novascotia.ca/dhw/cdpc/documents/Landscape-Management-Handbook.pdf, https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/ticks-tick-borne-diseases/prevent-tick-bites.html. A different take – https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/rewild-your-yard-to-fight-ticks-and-support-wildlife/.

18. In 2020 @FamPhysCan and the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) developed a Lyme Disease Tool for Early Lyme – https://www.cfpc.ca/en/education-professional-development/practice-tools-guidelines/lyme-disease-tool. Unfortunately, one for Early/Late Disseminated Lyme was never done. That is needed, along with other TBDs.

19. Get ready for Lone Star ticks. Have been found in parts of Canada, including N.S. – “Scientists are warning Canadians to get ready for a U.S. tick invasion this year” (CBC) & https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8352541/.

20. “Individuals diagnosed with Lyme borreliosis in the hospital setting had an increased risk of mental disorders, affective disorders, suicide attempts, and suicide.” – https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.20091347?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed.

21. Lyme arthritis can be misdiagnosed – https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/clinical-care/lyme-arthritis.html; https://www.hopkinslyme.org/research/estimating-the-incidence-of-autoimmune-inflammatory-arthritis-after-acute-lyme-disease/; & https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4614091/.

22. Bell’s Palsy/Facial palsy can be a sign of Lyme disease – https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/clinical-care/neurologic-lyme-disease.html; https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8791801/; and, from 2012, https://caep.ca/periodicals/Volume_14_Issue_5/Vol_14_Issue_5_Page_321_-_324_Ho.pdf.

23. Should a cost analysis be undertaken re Lyme in NS and Canada? Absolutely! – https://shiningthelymelight.com/2026/04/12/should-a-cost-analysis-be-undertaken-re-lyme-yes/; https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12805444/.

24. I held a Lyme Conference in Halifax in 2018. This video is a presentation by Dalhousie University about what they found in BOTH blacklegged ticks and dog ticks – https://youtu.be/RDVE3C4QAIA?si=lqvG3XsFa65amJD9. Why are we not more worried about any tick that bites us?

25. Late disseminated or Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome is sometimes called “Chronic Lyme”. Use of that name can cause people to overreact. Learn more re the name – https://www.columbia-lyme.org/chronic-symptoms & https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/02/28/1087617/tackling-long-haul-diseases/.

26. Did you know that the annually reported Lyme case #’s in Canada are not the total # of annual cases. What is the actual #? We don’t know – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6315539/ & https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-7219-x.

27. A Lyme petition was tabled in the NS Legislature in the spring of 2025 – . https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18epszKowj/?mibextid=wwXIfr. I am not aware of any of our Asks being undertaken. Help needed to make them happen. More info – “More needs to be done to protect people from tick-borne diseases in Nova Scotia, advocate says” – (Halifax Examiner).

28. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has this great resource for you and your pets – Home – Tick Talk . Lots of important info.

29. “Ongoing surveillance, increased awareness, and education should be encouraged to better define and understand the changing epidemiology of tickborne diseases in Atlantic Canada” – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9155882/. From 2022.

30. https://www.etick.ca/ helps with identification of ticks but also maps where, & what type of, ticks are found in Canada. https://geneticks.ca/ can test ticks. If attached & engorged, or removed incorrectly, consider testing. Both valuable resources.

31. Although this is the last day, tick awareness/prevention should be year-round. Don’t be complacent – https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/05/28/tick-checks-should-be-part-routine. No tick is a good tick. More than Lyme can be transmitted. Transmission times can vary.

Stay safe! Prevention is key!