In Canada we think of Lyme Disease as an unfortunate illness that happens elsewhere in the world - well the numbers are in and and look out, because it's in our back yard too, now. When I first moved out to Ridgeway from St. Catharines I met my first tick. And then my next ten in a span of about an hour. The great dane had gone for a leisurely walk around the perimeter of the property and low and behold - TICKS!! Not just one or two, either. I quickly learned the lesson of checking carefully the coverage of my flea preventative, because not all cover tick prevention as well. The few days between the coverage application and it's full effect saw enough ticks on my big guys to last me several lifetimes.
Look below at the new CDN stats; and then call your vet to make sure your furry family memebers are covered!
In 2010, Lyme disease became a nationally reportable disease in Canada. This means that all medical professionals must report cases of Lyme disease to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) via their provincial public health system. PHAC posts information on reportable, or notifiable, diseases on its website. PHAC surveys the provinces and territories to assess the number of cases and distribution of Lyme disease in Canada. This survey does not capture all of the cases of Lyme disease in Canada, particularly cases of early Lyme disease. Recent studies suggest that the incidence of Lyme disease in Canada is increasing.
The risk for exposure to the disease is highest in regions where the ticks that transmit Lyme disease are known to be established. These regions are parts of southern and southeastern Quebec, southern and eastern Ontario, southeastern Manitoba, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well as much of southern British Columbia. Surveillance data indicates a small number of blacklegged ticks are introduced into widely separated areas of Canada by migratory birds, posing some risk that individuals in other areas may also be exposed to infected ticks.
Although rarer than Lyme disease, there are other infections that can also be contracted from blacklegged ticks. These include Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis; Babesia microti, the agent of human babesiosis and Powassan encephalitis virus. The precautions outlined above will also help to protect individuals from these infections.
Look below at the new CDN stats; and then call your vet to make sure your furry family memebers are covered!
In 2010, Lyme disease became a nationally reportable disease in Canada. This means that all medical professionals must report cases of Lyme disease to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) via their provincial public health system. PHAC posts information on reportable, or notifiable, diseases on its website. PHAC surveys the provinces and territories to assess the number of cases and distribution of Lyme disease in Canada. This survey does not capture all of the cases of Lyme disease in Canada, particularly cases of early Lyme disease. Recent studies suggest that the incidence of Lyme disease in Canada is increasing.
The risk for exposure to the disease is highest in regions where the ticks that transmit Lyme disease are known to be established. These regions are parts of southern and southeastern Quebec, southern and eastern Ontario, southeastern Manitoba, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well as much of southern British Columbia. Surveillance data indicates a small number of blacklegged ticks are introduced into widely separated areas of Canada by migratory birds, posing some risk that individuals in other areas may also be exposed to infected ticks.
Although rarer than Lyme disease, there are other infections that can also be contracted from blacklegged ticks. These include Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis; Babesia microti, the agent of human babesiosis and Powassan encephalitis virus. The precautions outlined above will also help to protect individuals from these infections.
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