Deer bait stations could fight Lyme disease in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, says politician

The mayor of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, N.S., wants to revisit the idea of using deer bait stations to fight the spread of ticks and the Lyme disease they carry, and she thinks southwestern New Brunswick should consider doing the same.

Carolyn Bolivar-Getson says the stations are "basically a candy dish" for deer that dispense corn, and as the animals are feeding, their ears, head and neck rub against vertical rollers that apply a pesticide to kill any ticks.

Lunenburg County did a pilot project with deer bait stations a few years ago and saw a 20 per cent decrease in the number of ticks between 2011 and 2015, said Bolivar-Getson.

"I think 20 per cent is better than nothing," she said.

But she noted she has since heard some states, such as Connecticut, have recently had up to a 98 per cent success rate.

"I'm not sure that we had the amount that we needed to," said Bolivar-Getson. "I believe the research shows now that you need a deer bait station for every 40 acres (16 hectares) to be effective.

"It's definitely something I'm going to be working with and consulting with the provincial government to see if there's an opportunity to do another pilot here."

High risk area

​​Lunenburg County is one of the areas where the risk of tick bites and Lyme disease is considered higher than in other parts of Nova Scotia, according to the federal government. The other regions include Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens, Halifax and Pictou counties.

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The number of cases of Lyme disease in Nova Scotia last year has not yet been released, but the number more than doubled between 2014 and 2015, rising to 254 reported cases from 115.

I truly believe it's an epidemic and it's one that we need to get a handle on now.- Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, Municipality of Lunenburg mayor

About 80 per cent of the cases are in Lunenburg County, according to Bolivar-Getson, and she believes many more go undiagnosed.

"I truly believe it's an epidemic and it's one that we need to get a handle on now," she said.

Transmitted through insect bites

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) that's transmitted through the bite of select types of infected ticks.

It can cause a rash at the site of the bite, fever, fatigue, muscle aches and headaches. If untreated, it can lead to a weakening of facial muscles and heart problems.

New Brunswick has numerous areas identified as hotspots for ticks and Lyme disease this year, including: St. Stephen, St. George, Saint Andrews, Renforth Grand Manan, Grand Bay-Westfield, Millidgeville, Saint John, Rothesay and Quispamsis, according to provincial health officials.

There were eight laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme disease in 2016, but the acting chief medical officer of health expects to see an increase as a result of the new Lyme disease strategy that includes providing education and awareness to the public and to physicians about the infectious disease.

Bolivar-Getson could not estimate how much the deer bait stations would cost but did say she doesn't think they're expensive.

"It's a big hunk of plastic that you put your corn down the middle, it comes out the bottom, it's gravity-fed and the … rollers are on the side and you apply the pesticide to the … rollers."

And they're safe for the deer, she said, acting much like a flea or tick collar for cats and dogs.

How to protect yourself

The municipality is also distributing and posting information about ticks and Lyme disease at its parks and recreational facilities.

The information includes tips on how people can protect themselves, such as tucking their pants into their socks when walking in the woods, wearing light-coloured clothing so they can see any ticks and checking themselves for any tick once indoors.

The New Brunswick Lyme Disease Strategy 2017 also includes ongoing collaboration, conducting surveillance, and enhancing guidelines for best practices "as necessary."

It comes on the heels of the federal government announcing plans to spend $4 million to fight Lyme disease through a new research network aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment.

The federal framework has three pillars: surveillance, guidelines and best practices, and public education and awareness.