Hastings Prince Edward Public Health reports that the first probable case of the tick-borne illness anaplasmosis has been identified in Hastings Prince Edward.
On July 1, Ontario added three more tick-borne illnesses to the list of reportable diseases, anaplasmosis being one of them.
A case is considered probable when an individual has compatible signs and symptoms of the disease and is likely to have had exposure to the disease.
The illness is caused by a type of bacteria that is transmitted to humans by the bite of a blacklegged tick, the same kind of tick that transmits Lyme Disease.
For most people, anaplasmosis is a mild illness with symptoms subsiding within 30 days, even without treatment.
Symptoms can include fever and chills, severe headaches, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.
However, the illness can be more severe in certain individuals, including those at greater risk for severe illness such as older individuals and those who have a weakened immune system.
A delay in diagnosis and treatment may also result in more severe illness.
An individual might be at risk of anaplasmosis if they are bitten by a blacklegged tick carrying the Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacterium, and the tick is attached for at least 12 hours.
The first symptoms of anaplasmosis usually appear within one to two weeks after being bitten by an infected tick.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and have recently been bitten by a tick, or been in a tick habitat, please contact your health care provider.
They may prescribe antibiotics while you wait for test results if anaplasmosis or another infection caused by ticks is suspected.
For more information on ticks, tick-borne diseases, and how to protect yourself from tick bites, visit the HPEPH website.
