Tick-borne illnesses: an evolving health concern

In this episode, Drs. Blair Bigham and Mojola Omole speak with two leading experts: Dr. Samira Jeimy, an allergist, and Dr. Isaac Bogoch, a specialist in infectious diseases, about the increasing prevalence of allergies and infections in Canada attributed to insects.

Dr. Jeimy authored the article in the CMAJ titled “Five things to know about… tick-borne red meat allergy (α-gal syndrome)”. Dr. Jeimy describes how tick bites introduce a carbohydrate, alpha-gal, leading the human body to manifest allergic reactions to red meat. She underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with this allergy due to its delayed reactions and the spectrum of symptoms, which can range from mild to critical.

Dr. Bogoch shifts the focus to the expanding footprint of tick and other insect-borne diseases in Canada, such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. He attributes this surge to the climatic shift towards warmer temperatures and abbreviated winters. He emphasizes the indispensability of preventive measures, including vigilant tick checks, use of repellents, and donning protective clothing.

Both experts stress the urgency of heightened education, rigorous surveillance, and enhanced testing methodologies. As ticks and insects advance further north, physicians need to be alert to this emerging health challenge.

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