News Health & Safety
Health officials warn of three other tick-borne diseases of concern to outdoor workers

Outdoor turf and grounds maintenance professionals now have three other diseases to be concerned about if bitten by the blacklegged deer tick.

The Ontario Ministry of Health reports that Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus have joined Lyme disease as possible medical setbacks if bitten by a tick. Anaplasmosis causes diarrhea, vomiting, and myalgia in addition to fatigue and fever, yet doesn’t leave a rash like Lyme disease. Studies have shown that Anaplasmosis was present in between five and 10 per cent in blacklegged ticks collected between 2019 and 2020.

Babesiosis’ symptoms resemble those of malaria, including chills, fever, body aches and nausea. Both Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis can be treated with antibiotics, unlike Powassan virus.

Health officials say Powassan virus is the most concerning of the three, noting it can go undetected following a negative test for Lyme disease.