Tick-Borne Diseases
![]() Do you know what can be lurking in wooded and grassy areas? Infected blacklegged ticks. They can spread the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, a potentially serious illness. Here's what you need to know about it. Watch this video from Government of Canada: Enjoy the Outdoors, Without a Tick |
Tick-borne diseases are the result of an infection by disease-causing agents such as viruses, parasites and bacteria that can be contracted through the bite of an infected tick. In Manitoba, there are several species of ticks but only one species, Ixodes scapularis, is responsible for spreading tick-borne diseases to humans. This tick is more commonly known as the deer tick or the blacklegged tick. Other tick species, such as the more common wood tick, are not effective vectors of disease causing agents in Manitoba.
There are three reportable tick-borne diseases found in Manitoba: Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Lyme Disease. Anyone who feels that they may have contracted a tick-borne disease should see a doctor. Tick-borne diseases can be successfully treated and treatment is most successful in the early stages of infection. In addition to the three reportable tick-borne diseases, Manitoba Health (Health) also monitors tick populations for the introduction of other disease causing agents such as Borrelia miyamotoi and Powassan virus.
- Manitoba Annual Tick-Borne Disease Report 2018
- Manitoba Annual Tick-Borne Disease Report 2017
- Manitoba Annual Tick-Borne Disease Report 2016
- Manitoba Annual Tick-Borne Disease Report 2015
Reported Cases of Anaplasmosis in Manitoba
In 2015 Anaplasmosis became a provincially reportable disease in Manitoba.
Case Classification | 2021
| 2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
Total |
Confirmed Case * | 1 |
1 |
4 |
14 |
6 |
11 |
2 |
39 |
Probable Case * | 0 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
20 |
Total Reported ** | 1 |
1 |
6 |
21 |
10 |
16 |
4 |
59 |
As of April 27, 2022
* At present Anaplasmosis is not reportable nationally and surveillance case definitions reflect those developed by Health.
** Some reported cases are currently under investigation; these cases will be classified when the investigations are complete.
Reported Cases of Babesiosis in Manitoba
In 2015, Babesiosis became a provincially reportable disease in Manitoba.
Case Classification | 2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
Total |
Confirmed Case * | 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Probable Case * | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Total Reported ** | 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
As of April 27, 2022
* At present Babesiosis is not reportable nationally and surveillance case definitions reflect those developed by Health.
** Some reported cases are currently under investigation; these cases will be classified when the investigations are complete.
Reported Cases of Lyme Disease in Manitoba
In 2009, Lyme disease became nationally reportable. National definitions for confirmed and probable cases were developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), whereby Canadian jurisdictions will consistently report both confirmed and probable cases.
Classification des cas | 2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
Total 2017-2021 |
Total 2009-2021 |
Confirmed Case * | 19 |
15 |
34 |
29 |
34 |
131 |
235 |
Probable Case * | 19 |
15 |
34 |
25 |
13 |
106 |
203 |
Other ** | 11 |
11 |
22 |
17 |
14 |
75 |
141 |
Total Reported *** | 49 |
41 |
90 |
71 |
61 |
312 |
579 |
As of June 17, 2022
* Confirmed and probable cases of Lyme disease became reportable to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in 2009. Manitoba has adopted the national surveillance case definitions for reporting. National case definitions are available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/lyme-disease/surveillance-lyme-disease/case-definition.html
** Cases listed as “Other” include those that have been reported to Health either by a physician or lab report, but do not meet the national surveillance case definitions for a confirmed or probable case of Lyme disease.
*** Some reported cases are currently under investigation; these cases will be classified when the investigations are complete.
Communicable Disease
Control (CDC) Health Links – Info Santé |