The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is hoping to spread awareness with a new display on ticks at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre this week.
The display, called Ticks – Little Bugs, Big Problem, is a mobile display that travels throughout Canada to teach kids about the science of ticks, as well as how to prevent the spread of diseases they carry.
“We want people to be more aware of checking for ticks, and also educate them on what kind of ticks can carry Lyme disease,” said Sarah Kucharshi, communications officer for MODL.
“We don’t want people to be afraid of going outdoors and getting physical activity. We have an absolutely beautiful region with so many great parks and trails, and we want people to get out and use them. Being aware is the first step towards protecting yourself.”
The display was brought in as part of MODL’s effort to educate people on ticks and Lyme disease prevention, something they have invested heavily in over the years.
“MODL has been funding a large scale awareness program about the importance of checking for ticks everyday, so we’ve been out to events talking about ticks, doing newspaper and radio ads and even social media posts,” said Kucharski, “So when the Public Health Agency of Canada offered to send us this travelling exhibit, we really jumped on that chance.”
Kucharski said the Lunenburg region is a hotspot for ticks and Lyme disease in Canada, so education on tick checks and ticks themselves is key to keep everyone healthy and able to enjoy the beauty the region offers.
“Bringing awareness to what we can do to prevent Lyme disease, which at this point unfortunately isn’t a lot, is really important. Every opportunity we have to make people aware of that, we take advantage of it. We do go to a lot of events to speak, but this is a more passive display that kids and adults can interact with,” she said.
The display arrived outside the LCLC last week, and has been a big draw for people of all ages.
“There is a very large plastic tick model on top, so you can see how they really look in a huge scale,” said Kucharski.
“There are also actual ticks embedded in the display, and there are magnifying glasses you can use to see them up close.”
The display will remain outside the LCLC for another week, before heading out to its next location.
Reported by: Cody McEachern
Twitter: @CodyInHiFi
E-mail: mceachern.cody@radioabl.ca
