Federal health officials sound alarm for Lyme disease

With ticks carrying Lyme disease bacteria turning up in new places in Canada, doctors should look at the disease as a possible cause of arthritic and neurological ailments, federal health experts say.

The ticks live in tall grass or on the woodland floor. If a Lyme-infected tick bites, it can inject bacteria that cause serious illness, though it's rarely fatal.

"There's a theoretical possibility that patients in areas where we hadn't currently shown the ticks to be established could have Lyme disease," said Harvey Artsob, a director of zoonotic diseases and special pathogens at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. "It's a relatively low risk, but the risk exists."

Ticks that carry Lyme disease are considered "established" around Lunenberg, N.S., along Lake Erie in Ontario, and parts of southern B.C.

An area near Halifax and one in southeastern Manitoba are also under investigation for the ticks.

"We expect as our climate continues to warm and other factors come into play, we're going to have an extension of our Lyme problem," said Dr. Kevin Forward, the head of microbiology for Capital Health in Halifax.

Tick protection

Cover up your arms and legs when walking through woods and grassy areas. Use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin and clothes. Check yourself and your pets for ticks once inside the home. Source: Public Health Agency of Canada

After realizing there are more infected ticks than thought, the Public Health Agency of Canada is reworking its guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. In the meantime, the agency is alerting doctors.

Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose unless people develop the tell-tale "bull's eye" rash. Other symptoms such as fatigue and joint pain can look like the flu or other conditions, and lab tests of blood are imperfect.

If treated early with antibiotics, patients usually make a full recovery. But left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to chronic arthritis, numbness and paralysis.

Glenn Turner owns a woodlot in New Ross, N.S., near Lunenberg. When Turner was diagnosed with Lyme disease three years ago, it wasn't a mystery. He had the typical red spots on his chest, and was sick with fever and hallucinations.

"You're in the woods, in the woodlot, the whole day long," said Turner, who was prescribed antibiotics and is now fine. "So I don't know what time of day I happened to pick the tick up at. Sometimes they can be on for days before you realize they're there."

Migratory birds can also bring Lyme-carrying ticks to areas where the bloodsuckers aren't established.