FRANCAIS

April 24, 2006

Manitoba Health encourages Manitobans to take precautions to reduce exposure to Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted from infected blacklegged ticks (sometimes called deer ticks) to humans.

In 2005, three cases of Lyme disease were identified in people who had visited the southeastern corner of Manitoba. Manitoba Health is working with the Public Health Agency of Canada to carry out a field survey to confirm if a blacklegged tick population has become infected and established in this area.

Preliminary information from this survey has identified blacklegged ticks infected with the organism that causes Lyme disease. This indicates that a population of these ticks may now be established in the southeastern corner of the province. This field study will continue over the next several weeks.

Manitobans are encouraged to take steps to minimize contact with blacklegged ticks by:

• avoiding tick-infested areas whenever possible including limiting contact with tall grass or wooded areas and staying to the centre of hiking trails or paths;

• wearing light-coloured clothing to make it easier to see ticks that may be on you;

• wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt if you are in tall-grass habitats or wooded areas where ticks are most commonly found;

• tucking your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from attaching to your skin;

• using repellents containing DEET on clothing and exposed skin after reading and closely following instructions for use, especially when applying repellent to children;

• inspecting yourself, your children and your pets for ticks as soon as you leave a tick-infested area; and

• keeping grass well mowed on property to help reduce the amount of habitat suitable for ticks.

If a tick is attached to your skin, carefully remove it with tweezers. Grasp the tick close to the skin and pull slowly upward with steady pressure; avoid twisting or crushing the tick. Cleanse the skin around the tick bite with soap and water or a disinfectant. The risk of catching Lyme disease from a tick is reduced if the tick is removed early, especially within 24 hours.

Most species of ticks found in Manitoba, including the very common American dog ticks (also known as wood ticks), are not effective transmitters of Lyme disease. Research has shown that blacklegged ticks found in Manitoba are likely introduced by migratory birds which may be infested with blacklegged ticks from areas to the south.

Both wood ticks and blacklegged ticks can be collected in tall grass, along trail margins and in wooded areas. Adult wood ticks are common in Manitoba from May to July. Adult blacklegged ticks can be found from April to November but are most common in October and November.

Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose because some of the symptoms of Lyme disease are common to many diseases. Lyme disease usually starts about two weeks after a tick bite with an expanding ring-like rash which then fades. If such a rash appears, individuals are encouraged to photograph these lesions alongside a ruler to indicate the size of the rash. The photograph can be shown to your physician.

Many people also develop flu-like symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, fever, muscle aches or fatigue. If untreated, some people may continue to experience headaches and may develop dizziness, difficulty concentrating, stiff neck and, in rare cases, an irregular heartbeat. Some people may also develop joint pain and swelling.

Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics and treatment is most successful in the early stages of infection. Treatment should be based upon a clinical diagnosis. Individuals who think they may have Lyme disease should see their physician.

Further information on Lyme disease is available from Manitoba Health fact sheets available at

http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/fs/lyme.pdf or by visiting your local public health office.

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