VECTOR

Bite form an infected tick.

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917 CASES IN 2015

Lyme disease is endemic in Canada with 917 reported cases in 2015. The greatest

risk occurs where ticks carrying the Lyme disease-causing agent are found.

Surveillance in recent years indicates that established populations of black-

legged ticks are spreading.

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SYMPTOMS

Red circular, expanding rash (with or without central clearing), fatigue, fever,

headache, mild stiff neck, joint pain, muscle pain.

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SERVER CASE:

Neurologic conditions (meningitis, radiating nerve pain, facial paralysis), cardiac

abnormalities (inflammation of the heart muscle with atrioventricular heart block),

arthritis.

As there are no vaccines available, basic precautions should be taken:

• Avoid tick habitats, such as long grass

• Use a recommend insect repellent containing either Icardin (20%) or DEET

• Minimize areas of exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and

closed shoes

• Carry a tick remover or fine tooth tweezers

• Carefully check every day for attached ticks

• If found remove the tick by gently gripping it as close to skin as possible and

pulling away steadily without twisting or crushing the tick. Ensure the entire tick

- including head and mouthparts - is removed

• Wash your skin with water and soap afterwards and apply an antiseptic cream

around the bite.

• If possible, send any ticks that you have removed to a public health laboratory

in your area or the National Microbiology laboratory (NML)

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