Preventative measures can reduce tick risk on P.E.I., experts say

Gwyneth Egan · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 14, 2025 1:22 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 14

With summertime astir the corner, experts are reminding Prince Edward Islanders to enactment vigilant astir tick safety. 

April, May and June people the precocious play for ticks, said Christine Noronha, an entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 

"We don't cognize however galore there's going to be, but they are decidedly here," Noronha said.

There are a fewer antithetic taxon of ticks connected P.E.I., but it's the black-legged tick — besides known arsenic the cervid tick — that tin transportation Lyme disease. 

Early symptoms see a rash, fever, headache and fatigue. 

Although much tick sightings person been reported connected the Island successful caller years, the Department of Health and Wellness said rates of Lyme illness person stayed astir the aforesaid since 2023, with astir 3 cases per 100,000 people. 

There were 2 lab-confirmed cases of Lyme illness successful the state successful 2024. 

In comparison, Nova Scotia had the highest complaint successful the state successful 2023, with 194 cases per 100,000 people. 

The hazard of contracting Lyme illness from a tick connected P.E.I. is low, but the state said precautions should inactive beryllium taken successful wooded areas. 

Tick tips

When spending clip outdoors — particularly successful areas with gangly writer — Noronha identified immoderate information tips to trim the hazard of getting bitten by a tick. 

"It's precise important to deterioration agelong pants and propulsion your socks implicit your pants, and besides person agelong sleeve shirts on," Noronha said.

She besides recommended utilizing DEET-based repellent.

Even with those precautions, it's important to cheque yourself for signs of ticks since they tin crawl nether clothing, Noronha said. 

If you bash spot a tick, the champion happening to bash is place it, she said. 

The champion mode to bash that is by utilizing the eTick app, which tin place ticks based connected photograph submissions. The app volition fto users cognize if the tick successful the photograph has been identified arsenic a black-legged tick.

Step-by-step instructions for however to usage the app, arsenic good arsenic further accusation astir Lyme disease, tin beryllium recovered connected the provincial government's website. 

Protecting pets

It's not conscionable humans that are astatine hazard of tick bites and infections. The insects tin besides latch onto and infect pets, said Tasha Clark, the vice-president of the P.E.I. Veterinary Medical Association. 

"The bully quality is that Lyme illness would not beryllium straight transmitted betwixt our pets and ourselves," Clark said. 

"But evidently if the ticks are coming into the location connected your pets past they person an accrued likelihood of perchance coming successful and attaching to you arsenic well."

Lyme illness tin alteration successful however it affects animals, but the astir communal symptoms see fever, lethargy, lameness and associated pain, Clark said, noting that much superior cases could effect successful outcomes similar kidney failure. 

Pet owners should beryllium checking their animals — and themselves —- for ticks connected a regular basis, Clark said.