Lyme disease surveillance in Canada: Annual edition 2022 (infographic)

What is Lyme disease?

• Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick.
• Early symptoms can present as flu-like symptoms including joint pain and/or bull's eye rash. If untreated, individuals may experience cardiac and neurologic manifestations and arthritis.

What is the risk?

• Lyme disease is the most frequently reported vector-borne disease in Canada. Vector-borne diseases are infectious diseases transmitted to humans from insects.
• The greatest risk of acquiring Lyme disease occurs in regions where populations of ticks carrying the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, have become established.

Who's at greater risk?

Cases occurred in all age groups. Those at greatest risk were:

• children aged 5-14 years
• adults aged 60-79 years

Human cases reported in 2022

• 2,525 cases of Lyme disease were reported, of which, 83% were confirmed cases and 17% probable cases
• 54% cases were males
• 46% cases were females

Geographic distribution of reported cases

Cases reported by Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Prince Edward Island were travel−related only. 3% of reported cases were likely infected during travel in the USA or Europe.

Seasonality

• 32% of cases reported illness onset in July
• 95% of cases reported an illness onset between May and November

Tips to avoid tick bites

Protecting yourself when doing outdoor activities:

• cover exposed skin
• use insect repellent

Reducing risk:

• do a full-body check for ticks after each outdoor activity
• remove ticks using clean, fine-point tweezers