Lyme Disease
calendar icon May 7th, 2013
Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is an infection caused by the corkscrew-shaped bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. In Ontario, these bacteria are spread by the bite of Ixodes scapularis, or backlegged ticks. The blacklegged tick can be found sporadically throughout the province.

 

Blacklegged ticks pass through three different life stages (1 – larva, 2 – nymph, 3 – adult). The nymphal stage typically occurs during the summer months and is the stage most likely to infect people with Lyme disease. This is due to their small size which prevents people from noticing them on their body.

 

For more information on preventing Lyme disease, visit the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website.