Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is an infection transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, also called a deer tick. These ticks are in our region and are also spreading to new areas of the province, sometimes travelling on birds and deer. 

Ticks are most active in spring and summer but can be found at any time of the year when the temperature is above freezing (0^oC). As we experience global warming, ticks are becoming a greater concern.

Infections brought on by blacklegged tick bites, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus, can be serious. Not all blacklegged ticks carry the infectious agents that cause infections, and not everyone who is bitten by an infected tick will develop signs and symptoms of these diseases.

See the Ministry of Health’s Tick-Borne Diseases webpage for information about:

• What blacklegged ticks look like and where they live
• How to avoid getting a tick bite and how to remove a tick
• Tick testing
• Signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Found a tick on you?

If you find a tick on you or someone else, place it in a container and get it identified on eTick.ca. If you find a tick on your pet, call your veterinary clinic. Laboratory testing is for surveillance purposes only and is not intended to replace clinic guidance.

Visit your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you are not comfortable with removing a tick, you cannot remove the tick because it has buried itself deep into your skin, or if you have concerns after being bitten by a tick, aren't felling well, or have any symptoms.

Contact our Environmental Health program for more information. They can be reached at 705-474-1400 or toll-free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5400.

Incidence rate per 100,000 of Lyme disease by year

For more information please contact the Communicable Disease Control Program at 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229 or by email at cdc@healthunit.ca

Last updated: Mar. 2026, by CDC