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It's not just mosquitoes that people should be watching this summer.
The tick season is upon us and a recent report from the Public Health Agency of Canada adds that climate change is increasing the population and spread of the virus.
Robbin Lindsay, from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, said global temperatures were rising in Canada, allowing ticks to survive more and expand the range of their habitats.
"What climate change is causing is in areas where ticks are already present, that increases their abundance," said Lindsay, co-author of the Public Health Agency's April 4 report. that they spread to more northern latitudes. "
The biggest thing that Lindsay warns is the spread of the blacklegged tick, which carries Lyme disease.
Although blacklegged ticks are rare in Saskatchewan, population expansion means they are not too far away.
"The range change in 20 years has been extremely striking," said Lindsay, who added that there are now blacklegged ticks in northern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick , in Nova Scotia and Manitoba.
Twenty years ago, ticks only existed in southern Ontario. Saskatchewan is likely to see the spread of the tick at some point.
"There are certainly areas of Saskatchewan similar to Manitoba in terms of habitat (and) favorable climate, so we do not expect it to (only) happen, it's just a question of when," said Lindsay.
Lyme disease is the most prevalent disease in ticks and, according to Lindsay, it represents the greatest risk to humans.
"If a person is bitten by a tick, she is more likely to be exposed to (Lyme disease)," Lindsay said. "The number of ticks infected with Lyme disease varies from place to place and may only represent 10% in a given location, but once populations are well established, it can become much higher, 50 and 60%. range of one hundred. "
Rates of Lyme disease in Saskatchewan are low, mainly because of the low number of blacklegged ticks. All recorded infection rates must come from trips outside the province.
However, the rate of Lyme disease infections has increased dramatically nationally. In 2009, the infection rate was probably 144 per 100,000. The latest data for 2016 indicates a rate of 992 per 100,000 population.
The blacklegged tick is not the only one to develop. Lindsay added that populations of all tick species have increased across the country.
Saskatchewan tick species are most commonly American ticks and Rocky Mountain ticks.
"A group from the University of Saskatchewan has been studying these ticks and we have seen a range expansion in the north direction with these populations. We also saw it in Manitoba, "added Lindsay. "The American tick, for example, has settled in areas where it has never been found before."
As the effects of climate change increase across the country, Lindsay said he planned to continue to see the range of several species develop, particularly in Western Canada, as well as Likely introduction of other species of exotic ticks.
"As the climate lends itself better to species accustomed to a more temperate climate, and our climate becomes more temperate, we will have the opportunity to introduce and maintain ticks such as the Lone Star tick or even the Asian longhorn tick. . Canada, "said Lindsay.
Lindsay added that ticks are outside any weather above 5 ° C. Due to climate change, temperatures are generally warmer and therefore increase the time period during which ticks are active.
"At the end of the day, this leads to potential exposures to more people across Canada," said Lindsay, adding that the most important thing is to educate people about ticks and the spread of Parkinson's disease. Lyme.
Preventive measures include wearing long-sleeved clothing, insect repellent and tick removal within 24 hours.
Lindsay added that public health also monitored ticks in which area and worked with doctors to find out which tick pathogens existed in the area.
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