The Regional Health Authority reminds it's the time of year where risk of exposure to infected blacklegged ticks — also known as deer ticks — is at its highest.

According the Manitoba Health's website, blacklegged ticks are responsible for spreading three tick-borne diseases in the province: anaplasmosis, babesiosis and lyme disease. Southern Health Sante Sud Medical Officer of Health Dr. Michael Routledge says while tick-borne disease transmission is still relatively uncommon, exposures are increasing in Manitoba.

“It's not terribly common yet and will probably always be relatively rare,” Dr. Routledge says, noting the common thought is climate change is increasing the habitable space for blacklegged ticks. “But we do see a fair number of cases ... and we're expecting probably over time we'll see more cases. Not hundreds or thousands of cases, but it is an increasing issue in southern Manitoba.”

The number of lyme diseases cases reported in Manitoba annually since its became nationally reportable to the Public Health Agency of Canada in 2009. That year, there was one confirmed case and four probable cases of lyme disease diagnosed in Manitoba. In 2016, those numbers grew to 22 confirmed cases and 28 probable cases.

“A number of years ago it was really localized. We saw sporadic cases in Manitoba that started in the south eastern corner of the province,” Routledge explains. “It's increased, in terms of the places where we see established populations of these ticks.”

EXPOSURE PREVENTION

If you are spending time in areas where blacklegged ticks could reside, Dr. Routledge suggests basic strategies such as wearing long pants or long sleeve shirts. Also try to keep your clothing tucked in — including tucking pants into socks and shirts into pants.

“You can also wear DEET based mosquito repellent,” he says. “It will help.”

Always perform a thorough tick check after spending time in wooded areas, as it takes time for infected ticks to transmit tick-borne diseases after attaching.

“Ticks have to be attached for usually 24 hours,” Dr. Routledge explains. “If you can find the ticks and pull them off, then they won't transmit the infection.”

SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

The most common sign of lyme disease contraction from a blacklegged tick is the appearance of a circular red rash that expands and has a clear centre. The rash will usually appear about 7-10 days after exposure, but can be up to one month after.

“That rash is very commonly seen and fairly specific to lyme disease,” says Routledge. “Your doctor, when they see that in conjunction with the history of being somewhere where you may have been exposed to ticks, and (considering) the time of year as well ... that combination of signs, symptoms and history help your doctor make the diagnosis.”

Other symptoms are cold-like, such as: fevers, muscle aches and joint pain.

Lyme disease is curable. Dr. Routledge says once a patient is diagnosed the infection can be effectively treated with about two weeks of antibiotics use.

It's also possible the infection will clear by itself. However, without treatment, lyme disease can cause other types of complications such as heart complications, or other system complications, according to Routledge.

“It can be a fairly significant illness and that's why we want people to know about it and get seen,” Dr. Routledge says. “Then they can get treated. Because the treatment is effective.”

More information on blacklegged ticks is available here.