Background: Lyme disease is an emerging infectious disease in Canada that requires a comprehensive approach to prevention and control. It is a serious illness caused by a bacterium transmitted by certain types of ticks. The risk of Lyme disease currently exists in southern parts of British Columbia and Manitoba, southern and eastern Ontario, southern Quebec and New Brunswick, and in some locations in Nova Scotia.
Objective: To highlight the Public Health Agency of Canada's Action Plan on Lyme Disease, which aims to mitigate the risks to Canadians posed by Lyme disease through concrete activities being undertaken jointly with the provinces, territories, and various stakeholders.
Approach: A multidisciplinary approach was used to assess the evidence on Lyme disease in Canada, analyze stakeholder concerns and evaluate what was currently available to inform public health professionals and the public. This assessment informed the development of an action plan intended to address the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.
Results: The Action Plan on Lyme Disease sets out concrete action to be undertaken over three years, beginning in March 2014. It is built upon three pillars: 1.) Engagement, education and awareness, 2.) Surveillance, prevention and control, and 3.) Research and diagnosis.
Conclusion: Effective prevention and control of Lyme disease in Canada requires a coordinated multi-partner and stakeholder engagement approach.