Eastern Canada Is More Vulnerable To Lyme Disease In The Last Years, Statistics Show

Eastern Canada Is More Vulnerable To Lyme Disease In The Last Years, Statistics Show
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Eastern Canada, especially Central Quebec, is more vulnerable to ticks, in this period of the year, and, therefore, the Lyme disease incidence in the region is higher than usual.

The number of people suffering from Lyme disease, which can have serious health consequences, continues to increase in Eastern Canada as ticks keep on proliferating in the region and especially in Central Quebec where the Lyme disease incidence increases by more than 10%, annually.

The tick that transmits the Lyme disease is known as the black-legged tick which lives particularly in forests, woodlands, and tall grasses. However, as tick populations spread exceeding their regular habitats, they infested many other places, too.

Lyme disease’s origins

Lyme disease originates in the city of Lyme, in Connecticut, in the United States of America, where, in 1978, a number of bizarre cases of what it was believed to be arthritis were diagnosed in children.

Since then, the geographic extent of the tick has become increasingly important.

Given that the Quebec borders the Eastern Townships and Monteregie and other high-risk areas located on the US borders, ticks are more numerous in the region.

Lyme is can be a fatal disease

In case a tick bites a person, it remains attached to the skin and if the insect is not removed within 24 to 36 hours, the risk of infection increases. In most cases, however, the infection can be prevented as it takes more than 36 hours for the bacterium from the tick’s digestive system to move to the salivary glands of the insect and then to infect the person.

Usually, Lyme disease is mild in terms of symptoms but, due to the bacteria from the ticks’ digestive system, it can cause neurological issues such as meningitis and paralysis.

How to protect against ticks?

  • Apply an insect repellent;
  • Wear long, light-colored clothing;
  • Avoid walking in areas with tall grass;
  • When returning home, check your skin for tick presence;
  • Treat outdoor pets with oral or topical acaricides, as recommended by the veterinarian;

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Jeffrey likes to write about health and fitness topics, being a champion fitness instructor in the past.

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