Black-legged tick, carrier of Lyme disease. Courtesy of Sask. Health
Provincial health officials will provide an update today on the incidence of Lyme disease, which is spread by the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick.
It is fairly rare in Saskatchewan.
Statistics on the health department’s website indicate there have been only three cases of Lyme disease in Saskatchewan since 2008. The infections were likely contracted outside of the province.
Early treatment provides the best chance of full recovery. Lyme disease is a serious illness that can cause sleep disturbance, fatigue, muscle and joint pain and mental confusion. Symptoms can last for years if not caught early.
Ninety-four per cent of the ticks found in Saskatchewan are the American dog tick, which does not carry Lyme disease.
Of the more than 21,000 ticks collected in Saskatchewan since 2008, only 50 were black-legged ticks. Among those, only four tested positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.