Health officials said blacklegged ticks may currently be around the Stanley Trail area in south-central Manitoba. That type of tick can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

So far, health officials said there have been two Lyme disease cases in humans who were in the area and there are also reports of Lyme disease in dogs.

Manitoba Health said additional sampling will be carried out to confirm the presence of the ticks.

Symptoms of Lyme disease can show up about three days to one month after a tick bite. They sometimes start with an expanding rash which then fades, said health officials.

Other early symptoms can include stiff neck, headache, muscle aches, fever, or fatigue, chills and swollen lymph nodes.

Individuals who think they may have Lyme disease are advised to see their doctor. Lyme disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Treatment is most effective in the early stages of infection, said health officials.

Manitoba Health advised people to take precautions when outside, including:

  • limiting contact with tall grass or other vegetation along wooded areas and staying to the centre of hiking trails or paths
  • wearing light-coloured clothing to make it easier to see ticks that may be on skin or clothing
  • wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt in tall-grass or wooded areas where ticks are most commonly found
  • tucking a shirt into pants and pants into socks to prevent ticks from attaching to the skin
  • applying repellent on clothing and exposed skin
  • inspecting oneself, children and pets for ticks and removing them as soon as possible
  • keeping grass well-mowed to help reduce the amount of habitat suitable for ticks

More information on Lyme disease is available by going to the Manitoba Health website or by calling Health Links at 788-8200 (in Winnipeg) or at 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free).