**** NSHA Media Release
Additional resources for Nova Scotians with tick-borne infections
Summer is a time for outdoor adventures. But it’s important to remember that fun in the sun can come with potential risks, like tick-borne infections.
The Nova Scotia Health Tick Service offers Nova Scotians access to timely and relevant information and education, along with assistance in coordinating care for tick-borne infections.
This provincial service includes:
- The Tick Helpline (1-866-266-7199): Callers are connected with a clinician team, which provides support for acute and chronic symptoms of tick-borne infections and assist in navigating a care pathway.
- The Nova Scotia Health Tick Service website: www.nshealth.ca/tickservice. This website provides access to reliable, and evidence-based information, guidelines, and resources, which have been developed by key experts.
- The Nova Scotia Tick Talk Bot: This interactive tool provides key information about ticks and tick bites. Access to the clinician team is available through the Tick Talk Bot, should additional guidance on accessing care and services across the province be required. You can access it here: https://web.powerva.microsoft.com/environments/9e631f90-4c25-ed11-9938-37733c86d0f5/bots/cr434_pocTickbot9jhnBW/webchat?__version__=2
- Support will be coordinated across services in the province. Community pharmacies including Pharmacist Walk in Clinic+ and Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinic locations will be involved, along with primary care providers with care for chronic symptoms.
Additional resources from the Department of Health and Wellness and Public Health on tick bite prevention, and what to do when they happen, can be found here: https://novascotia.ca/ticksafety/
