Borrelia miyamotoi disease

Borrelia miyamotoi disease is caused by a bacterium. It is a relatively new and rare tick-borne disease.

Borrelia miyamotoi disease is diagnosed based on a physician’s assessment of a patient’s symptoms, history of exposure to blacklegged ticks and laboratory testing.

People infected with Borrelia miyamotoi most commonly have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache, body and joint pain and fatigue. 

Borrelia miyamotoi disease is spread through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. The blacklegged tick is found in eastern and central Canada, including New Brunswick, and the Western blacklegged tick is found in western Canada. 

The risk is highest in geographic areas where both the tick species and the pathogen that can cause human disease are found. Researchers are working to determine where Borrelia miyamotoi is found and who is at greatest risk of infection. 

Antibiotics are used to treat Borrelia miyamotoi disease. Consult a health-care provider for advice and treatment. 

Health-care providers and laboratories must report cases of Borrelia miyamotoi to Public Health. Public Health staff may interview the health-care provider and patient (or caregivers) to find out how the infection occurred, identify other people at risk of infection, implement control measures and provide other advice. 

The best prevention is through awareness. Find out where blacklegged ticks are most likely to be found. Protect yourself against tick bites with tick repellent, check for ticks after coming indoors, remove ticks safely, contact a health-care provider or local pharmacist for assessment of tick bites and see a health-care provider if you have symptoms of tick-borne diseases. 

For additional information, contact your health-care provider, local Public Health office or Tele-Care 811.