Lime illness continues to extend in Quebec and local weather alternate is in part defect

Cases of lime disease and other tick-borne diseases have been increasing in Quebec for more than a decade, and experts say that climate change is partially guilty.

With rising temperatures, ticks are getting more installed, especially in Southern Quebec, Kirsten Cranddle said, a scientific advisor, Institute National Day Sant Public Do Quebec (Inspector).

And hosts move north with animals, they are birds or deer, ticks are covering a wide range, he said. He said that this is especially true for black-leagged ticks that can transmit the lime.

“I think we will definitely continue on the increase in the number of different tick-borne diseases,” Cranddle said. “Lime disease is clearly one with the number of most cases.”

Lime disease is caused by a bacterium sent by the bite of black-foot ticks. The first symptom is usually a single circular rash.

Dr. McGill University Health Center (MUHC), an infectious pathologist Dr. Donald Vinh said, “Phase 2 and phase 3 of the disease can affect your heart, you can do neurological symptoms.”

“When it comes to those stages, there are antibiotics, but they are more intuitive types of antibiotics. Therefore, it is really important to stop it.”

Number of increasing cases

The number of declared cases of lime disease increased from 127 in 2014 to 653 in 2023. But not all were caught in the province. In 2014, 66 cases were acquired in Quebec. In 2023, this number increased by 562, or 86 percent.

Last year, 681 cases were declared in Quebec, in which 568 infections were acquired in the province.

As of May 14 this year, there were 61 reports made compared to 68 in the same period last year.

Jade Savez, Professor of an Antomology at the Bishop University in Sherbrook, said that there was an early spring in Quebec last year, which meant that Ticks were active soon. This year, spring has come later – which means that the activity of the tick is later.

Vinh said that Cubakers should expect the annual yoga to keep growing.

While the forest tour has increased and adequate vigilance cannot play a role, Vinh said that another factor is more awareness among health care providers that lime disease is now spatial in Southern Quebec.

The population of black-legged tick is also increasing.

Last year, The Inspector mapped the estimated spread to help the communities and governments plan for the coming decades.

Maps show expanding into areas where they are already found and in the northern and eastern regions where they are not usually seen, including lower, lower St. Lawrence and Gespe.

Cranddle said that the rising temperature will also allow tick population to flourish at places which are usually cold throughout the year.

Black-legged ticks can be active after a few days from 0 C to a few days after a few days. Most lime infections are acquired in spring and early summer when young ticks occur in the nymph phase and are very difficult to spot adult ticks.

Adult ticks are easy to see and are more active in fall.

Cranddle said that the major spatial areas of Lime Disease are Outkoys, Monteregi and Eastern Townships. He said that cases have also been cropped along with St. Lawrence River Valley.

According to the Ministry of Health, there are only four Quebec areas where Ticks have not been established: Cota-Nord, Nord-Du-Kawebek, Nunwik and Terres-Cris-De-L-L-B-Zems. However, the ministry says, not all established tick population carry Lime.

An established tick population is one that returns and continues after winter.

Less concern, more prevention

While the cases earned in Quebec are increasing, Cranddle said that lime disease is not necessarily nothing to worry, but it is to adapt to something. That is why Inspector and Health Ministry is working to educate the public about the prevention of ticking, Kraddle said.

Information about ticks, lime disease and tick cutting can be found on information Ministry of Health,

Savez launched ETICK.CA in 2017 with INSPQ and Canada’s Public Health Agency. The tool, which works on an app or website, now works across the country, allowing people to report and identify the tick by uploading photos. The site also provides advice to prevent cutting.

Although the 2025 tick report stops for a slow start due to the cooler season and later spring, she does not expect to affect the rest of the seasons. Last year saw a record number presentations, although it partially reflects the growing popularity of the app.

For each 100 submissions, more than 75 percent is identified as black-foot ticks. They kept moving forward in new areas, taken by birds, deer and other hosts, Savez said.

“They keep expanding and they remain more, but it is not necessarily a completely linear process,” he explained.

“A few years, we’ll look more. Some years we see less. But long -term trends for a continuous expansion to all points.”