Tick bite mystery reveals growing threat beyond Lyme disease
Experts warn tick populations are changing as new risks emerge across Canada
A Nova Scotia lady who thought she had developed the unusual alpha-gal syndrome after being bitten by a tick discovered that her severe symptoms were caused by another tick-borne sickness.
According to health experts, the instance highlights a growing worry as blacklegged ticks carry more infections, including anaplasmosis-causing bacteria.
While the disease can be dangerous if not treated, it responds favourably to medications when identified early.
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More than just Lyme disease
Photo of a Nathan Coleman and Nicoletta Faraone at the Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre in Wolfville, NS. (Nathan Coleman/The Weather Network)
Blacklegged ticks are well known for transmitting Lyme disease, but experts claim they are increasingly carrying many infections at the same time.
Although lone star ticks, which are associated to alpha-gal syndrome, are not commonly seen in Nova Scotia due to the province's harsh winters—experts say anaplasmosis rates have increased in Canada over the last decade, making early detection and treatment more crucial than ever.
Copy edited by Fredrick Reyes, a digital journalist at The Weather Network