Canadian experts warn of rising tick-borne diseases due to climate change. New research calls for national tracking and smarter prevention strategies.
Warming Climate Fuels Spread of Ticks and Illness
With tick populations expanding across Canada, scientists are sounding the alarm over a rise in tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. According to researchers, climate change is allowing ticks—especially black-legged ticks—to survive in new regions, putting more Canadians at risk.
“We’re watching ticks move into places where they’ve never been before,” says Nicholas Ogden, a senior scientist at the Public Health Agency of Canada, while conducting tick sampling in southern Quebec.
Cases Climb Across the Country
Health officials and researchers have seen a steady increase in tick-related infections, particularly in the spring and summer months.
“In our clinics, we continue to see more people with these diseases year after year,” said Dr. Gerald Evans, an infectious disease specialist at Queen’s University in Ontario. The most frequently diagnosed illness remains Lyme disease, often carried by black-legged tick nymphs no larger than a poppy seed.
Call for National Surveillance System
Scientists are pushing for a nationwide tick-tracking system to improve disease response and prevention.
Currently, tick surveillance relies on patchy data, often collected through voluntary submissions from the public and veterinarians or through fieldwork at specific sites. “There’s no comprehensive national system,” says Negar Elmieh of the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health.
A recent surveillance report found that 1 in 4 ticks in Quebec and Ontario carry Lyme disease bacteria, based on data from more than 300 sampling sites.
Targeting Wildlife to Reduce Ticks
Some experimental approaches focus on disrupting the tick lifecycle by targeting the animals they feed on.
In the U.S., one technique called the 4-Poster system lures deer to feeders where their legs brush against rollers coated in tick-killing pesticides. However, effectiveness varies by location.
Canada is testing reservoir-targeted methods on mice and rodents, using bait stations that administer acaricides—chemicals that kill ticks—directly onto the animals.
Simple Measures Still Matter
While research advances, public health experts emphasize proven methods for tick prevention:
- Tuck pants into socks
- Use DEET or Icaridin repellents
- Check for ticks after outdoor activity
Elmieh also recommends “smart landscaping” to make yards less tick-friendly:
- Use gravel or stone paths
- Trim trees and bushes to reduce humidity
- Avoid planting vegetation that attracts deer or rodents
Plants like lavender, sage, and daffodils can serve as natural deterrents. “We’re smarter than ticks,” Elmieh adds. “If we work collaboratively, we can stay ahead.”
A Growing Public Health Threat
As climate change accelerates, researchers stress that tick-borne illnesses are becoming a national issue. Without coordinated tracking, updated prevention strategies, and policy support, Canada risks falling behind in protecting its population from this emerging health threat.
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