Quebec Lyme Disease Cases Record High

by Jenn Smith November 12, 2019

The number of confirmed or probable cases of Lyme disease continued to climb in Quebec this year, with 371 reported by the provincial health ministry between Jan. 1 and Nov. 5.

A total of 304 cases were reported in the province in all of 2018. Until this year, the highest number recorded was 329 in 2017.

The Eastern Townships remain the area with the highest concentration of recorded cases — 139 thus far — followed by the Montérégie (92), Montreal (62) and the Outaouais region (19).

As of Nov. 5, no Lyme disease cases had been reported in the Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord regions, Nunavik or James Bay.

Lyme disease is an infection with symptoms that can include skin rashes, fatigue, swollen joints, cognitive decline and problems with vision. The bacteria is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected tick.

While younger ticks tend to be active during the spring and summer months, adults — no bigger than a sesame seed — are active during the autumn and occasionally, when snow is scarce, during the winter.

Story re-posted from Montreal Gazette. Written by Presse Canadienne