More than a dozen cases of emerging tick diseases reported in Manitoba in 2 years

Winter is coming, but that doesn't mean you're out of the woods just yet as far as tick diseases are concerned.

Dr. Richard Rusk, Manitoba'sMedical Officer of Health for CommunicableDisease, is advising Manitobans to be mindful of the pests this fall. In the past two years, 15 cases of the emerging tick diseases anaplasmosis and babesiosishave been reported to Manitoba health, he said.

This year is only the second year Manitoba Health has been tracking the number of cases of theemerging diseases. According toRusk, it will take about five years of monitoring before we can come to any meaningful conclusions about the prevalence of theseinfections.

Reported cases of tick-borne illness in the past 2years:

• Lymedisease 70
• Anaplasmosis14
• Babesiosis1

The diseases are carried by the same kind of tick that spreads Lyme disease calledblackleggedor deer ticks and canco-exist in the host. In fact, one tick carrying two diseasescan pass on both at the same time.

Rusk said a small portion of reported cases so far have been from people suffering from Lyme disease and one of theemerging infections simultaneously.

He said blacklegged ticks are still active at this time of year and the province"still has teams out doing surveillance."

"Blacklegged ticks will be a threat until there's frost consistently," Rusk said."If you're outinBirds Hill, LabarrireParkand Pembina Valley, it's still very possible to get ticks."

Anaplasmosis

Symptoms can start five to21 days after a tick bite and may include fever, chills, headache, joint aches, nausea and vomiting, often in association with blood abnormalities and/or liver abnormalities.Anaplasmosis can be successfully treated with antibiotics.

Babesiosis

Symptoms can start onetosix weeks after a tick bite and may include non-specific flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea or fatigue.Babesiosis can also be successfully treated with antibiotics.

Lyme disease

Symptoms can start about three days to one month after a tick bite, often with an expanding rash, which then fades. Early symptoms can also include headache, stiff neck, muscle aches or fatigue, fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes. Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics and treatment is most successful in the early stages of infection.

People who think they may have anaplasmosis, babesiosis or Lyme disease should see their doctor.For more information,contact Health Links-Info Sant at204-788-8200or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257.