A global warming leads to an increase Lyme disease And the introduction of diseases transmitted by less known ticks, according to public health specialists.
“Climate change in Canada occurs at a much more accelerated rate than we see in some parts of the world,” said Heather Coatsworth, head of field studies at the Winnipeg Microbiology Laboratory.
“Ticks, which are eight-legged organisms, but general insects, all need a certain amount of heat and humidity to finish their life cycle,” she said.
Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia continue to be the hot spots of black ticks, which can transport bacteria, parasites and viruses that cause diseases in humans – but the changing climate allows the tick population to develop in other parts of the country, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
Janet Sperling, a scientist specializing in insects and the president of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, said that this means increased awareness of diseases transmitted by ticks is necessary not only among the public, but among primary care providers and specialists in infectious diseases.
“Many doctors have been informed – it was their training -” you cannot get Lyme disease in Alberta; If you have no travel history, don’t worry “, said Sperling, who lives in Edmonton.
“There is no doubt that it has changed and that education has not caught up with some doctors,” she said.
The increase in the disease transmitted by ticks does not mean that you should stay inside, experts agree. But you can protect yourself. Here’s what you need to know about diseases and how to make sure summer time.
What is the frequency of Lyme disease?
Lyme disease has increased in Canada and the United States for several years. When provincial public health units began to monitor it in 2009, they reported 144 cases across the country. The number of preliminary cases for 2024 is 5,239, according to the Canada Public Health Agency.
The actual number is probably higher because many people may have had very general symptoms and have never obtained a diagnosis, said Coatsworth.
“There are estimates that if things continue to be done and climate change continues to take place in the context of things, that in 25 years, we would have about half a million Lyme disease in Canada,” she said.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Lyme disease can look like many other diseases and can cause fever, chills, fatigue, headache, swollen lymph nodes and muscle and joint pain.
A revealing sign of Lyme disease is a rash that looks like a bull eye, a target or that is circular or in the shape of an oval.
But Coatsworth warns that around 30 percent of infected people never receive a rash, so a diagnosis of Lyme disease should not be excluded if people have other symptoms.
What are the other diseases transmitted by ticks?
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Over the past two years, some provinces have started to monitor three other diseases distributed by black ticks: anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus.
Among these, anaplasmosis – although always rare – seems to develop the fastest, said Coatsworth: “He’s a bit of a new child on the block.”
When public health officials began monitoring it around 2012, there were about 10 to 50 cases per year in Canada.
There were more than 700 cases of anaplasmosis reported last year, said Coatsworth.
“It’s really a speed in the population.”
Symptoms of anaplasmosis can be similar to Lyme disease, without rash. They can also include cough, diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting, according to the Canada Public Health Agency.
Babesiosis can also cause symptoms similar to Lyme disease without rash, but this often causes anemia, said Coatsworth.
The Powassan virus can cause fever, chills, headaches, vomiting and general weakness, but it often progresses to serious neurological symptoms, such as encephalitis (brain swelling) and meningitis.
Can these diseases be treated?
Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are both caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics, generally starting with doxycycline, said Coatsworth.
Babesiosis is caused by a parasite and is similar to malaria, she said. It can be treated with anti-parasitic drugs.
There is no treatment for the Powassan virus. Patients are treated with support care, which may include intravenous liquids, drugs to reduce brain swelling and respiratory aid.
What kind of ticks have these dias?
Two types of black ticks carry these diseases: IXodes Scapularis, also called deer tick, is in several parts of Canada, in particular Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. In some parts of British Columbia, the dominant tick is ixes Pacificus, also known as Tick Western Blacklegged.
Ticks feed on the blood of deer, mice, rabbits and other mammals, as well as birds and reptiles. Birds can carry long distances ticks, so that they can be transported in different parts of Canada. The ticks are infected if the host animal is infected, and they in turn transmit the disease to humans when they bite and lock them.
What do ticks look like?
“Many people are very surprised when I show them a black tick. They cannot believe how small they are,” said Dr. Curtis Russell, specialist in diseases transmitted by the vector at Public Health Ontario.
An adult tick that is not full of blood is roughly the size of a sesame seed. A younger tick has roughly the size of a poppy.
Where are the ticks found?
Ticks are in wooded and grassy areas, according to the Canada Public Health Agency.
This includes forests, parks and hiking trails, but ticks can also live in more populated areas, said Coatsworth.
“It is a lot) of animals that exist in these environments. So many of them are peri-urban areas … A kind of these intermediate spaces which have now perhaps become your local neighborhood park where there are many more squirrels. Small rodents and white -tailed deer, in particular, have really helped support tick populations. ”
How to prevent tick bites?
The prevention of tick bites is similar to the repair of mosquitoes, said Dr. Mayank Singal, a public health doctor of the British Columbia Health Control Center.
Wearing long sleeves, long pants and the use of bugs are all important measures. It is better to choose light -colored clothes because it is easier to spot a tick when it lands.
Singal also encourages “try not to get in touch with foliage and bushes, because it is generally how they will see each other.”
Russell said it means when hiking, stay in the middle of the path.
After outdoor activities, carry out a body tick control, including body parts that have not been exposed. Russell suggested taking a bath or shower.
“You can check all your areas where the ticks could have been and if they haven’t bit you yet … they may be washing,” said Russell.
“They generally crawl … before biting and they generally tend to bite your hair root, your armpits, the back of your legs, your groin space.”
Russell also recommends washing your clothes and putting them in the dryer, where high heat will kill ticks.
If I find a tick, should I remove it?
Yes. Do it with tweezers as soon as possible, the experts agree.
A tick will integrate your mouth into the skin as with the legs that are protruding and it is important to remove the whole check.
“You want to grasp it as close as possible to the edge of the skin, tighten the tweezers … and grab the check mark, then remove it,” said Magnégal.
“We don’t want to twist, we don’t want to go to the left and right. Draw it straight for us to go out as much as possible.”
It is usually around 24 hours for the tick to transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis or babesiosis while it is locked.
The Powassan virus can be transmitted as quickly as 15 minutes after attachment, but very few ticks are currently carrying the virus, according to the Canada Public Health Agency.
So what?
People can take a picture of the tick and submit it to Etick.ca, as well as information where you were when you think it bit you. The service, managed by several universities and public health agencies, will tell you what type of tick it is and to what extent there is a risk of illness transmitted by ticks in the region.
If you had a tick on you and start developing symptoms, consult your health care provider and let them know that you may have been exposed to a disease transmitted by ticks, said Russell.
This Canadian press report was published for the first time on June 28, 2025.
Canadian press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
