Lyme Disease in Montréal: New Data and Recommendations

Epidemiological Status

Lyme disease is on the rise in the Montréal area. There were 86 reported cases in 2023 and it is now considered endemic across the entire Montréal area. These areas have been in constant expansion since it first appeared in 2015.

Protect Yourself!

Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks that carry the illness. When a tick bites, it can remain attached for more than 24 hours. However, there are measures you can take to prevent getting the disease, including:

• Staying on trails and avoiding tall grass when our walking;
• Wearing light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and pant legs;
• Using insect repellent when you go out.

You can reduce the presence of ticks in your immediate surroundings by:

• Cutting back tall grasses and mowing the lawn. Don’t forget to rake up the clippings after mowing.
• Stacking firewood in a dry, sheltered area. This will deter small rodents, which often carry ticks.

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