Manitoba aims to improve detection of Lyme disease

Our provincial government has announced annual funding to help improve health services for people with Lyme disease.

(Cameron Friesen, Manitoba Minister of Health)Health Minister Cameron Friesen has announced the establishment of a collaborative care service to streamline and improve health services for patients with symptoms of late Lyme disease and stroke. other emerging diseases born from ticks.

The Tick-based Collaborative Care Service will help patients by connecting their primary care provider with appropriate health professionals, including specialists.

The program, scheduled to begin this fall, will receive more than $ 240,000 a year.

"The symptoms of Lyme disease often can not be distinguished from the symptoms of many other chronic diseases, making diagnosis difficult and management difficult," said Friesen. "As the number of human cases of Lyme disease increases in Manitoba and across the country, our government is committed to staying at the forefront of research into tick-borne diseases. the response and mobilization of defenders. "

Manitobans are reminded to stay alert for ticks. Blacklegged ticks, capable of carrying tick-borne disease agents, such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Lyme disease, will remain active in the province until the first permanent snowfall. .