Albertans should take precautions against Lyme disease as ticks carrying the disease have been identified in the province.  So far this year, 5 ticks have tested positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The ticks were found on 4 dogs and a cat. These pets live in the Calgary and Edmonton areas and the ticks were submitted by veterinarians to Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) for testing. A bite by an infected tick can cause illness in people, wildlife and domestic animals if the tick remains attached for longer than 24 hours.

There have been no reported human cases of Lyme disease in Alberta this year and none since 2008.

“Lyme disease can be a serious condition if it’s not detected early and is left untreated,” said Dr. Andre Corriveau, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. “Your best defence against Lyme disease is prevention. Everyone should use insect repellent and cover up when walking in tall grass, woods or brush to avoid being bitten by ticks.”

Borrielia burgdorferi was detected in 13 ticks that were submitted for testing from around the province in 2010. ARD tick surveillance has identified over 25 ticks that carried the Lyme disease bacteria since 2007.

There were 20 cases of human Lyme disease reported in Alberta from 1989 to 2008. Public health officials have not been able to confirm that any of the infections were acquired in Alberta. The majority of cases have been linked to travel in the U.S. or Europe.

“Ticks that carry Lyme disease are rarely found in Alberta, however, Agriculture and Rural Development is continuing to monitor the situation and is trying to determine whether or not the ticks that carry Lyme disease are established in the province,” says Dr. Gerald Hauer, Chief Provincial Veterinarian. “It is important for pet owners to inspect their animals for ticks, especially after they’ve visited areas where ticks are, such as grassy fields and wooded areas.”

Ticks that carry Lyme disease normally attach and feed in the summer months from May to August, and may even attach up until the late fall. In humans, the disease is recognized as a circular, red rash starting at the tick bite three to 30 days after the bite occurs. The rash may be accompanied by fever, chills, headache, fatigue and swollen lymph glands. In some cases, Lyme disease results in neurological and muscular problems weeks or months after the original infection. More serious cases can lead to recurrent meningitis, heart problems and arthritis.

If you find a tick on your pet, contact your local veterinarian so the tick can be identified and collected for testing. The veterinarian can provide advice on how to remove it and prescribe treatment for the pet if it is necessary.

For more information on Lyme disease, visit myhealth.alberta.ca: (https://myhealth.alberta.ca); or view the Alberta Top Doc video at (http://topdoc.alberta.ca).

Anyone who suspects they have Lyme disease should contact HealthLink Alberta - in the Calgary-area at 403.943.LINK (5465); in the Edmonton-area at 780.408.LINK (5465) or, outside the local calling area, toll-free at 1.866.408.LINK (5465).