Federal Framework on Lyme Disease 2017 to 2022: Facts and figures

Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada

Date Published: 2022-06-10

Related links

• Lyme disease: Monitoring
• Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund

Under the 3 pillars of the Federal Framework on Lyme Disease:

1. Surveillance
2. Education and awareness
3. Guidelines and best practices

The Public Health Agency of Canada collected, analyzed and amplified information about the prevention of tick bites and Lyme disease for:

• families
• individuals
• communities
• governments
• health professionals

Kept people in Canada informed

Education is important. We provided tools and resources to inform the public about Lyme disease.

• Awareness resources:
  • Over 310,000 copies distributed to the public
  • 150,000 copies distributed through 25 national parks
  • Newly available in 8 non-official and 3 Indigenous languages
• 4 new educational videos with over 50,000 views
• 33.7 million impressions from annual digital advertising campaigns
• Children's travelling exhibit: Ticks - Little bugs, big problems
• Scientific information about ticks and Lyme disease
• Showcased 18 times in 15 cities in 4 provinces
• Free of charge to:
  • schools
  • libraries
  • museums
  • community centres
  • other similar venues
• Surveyed almost 2000 people across Canada to help inform future education activities

Expanded our reach

Strong partnerships lowered risks. We worked with partners and stakeholders to reach the public.

• New innovative partnerships:
  • Scouts Canada
  • Canadian Public Health Association
  • eTick
  • Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
  • L'Équipeur/Mark's
• Approval of permethrin-treated clothing expanded to include protection against ticks
• Provided educational material to over 380 L'Équipeur/Mark's retail stores to distribute to consumers
• Virtual information sharing series with 10 international public health agencies from 7 countries
• Over 700 subscribers to our Lyme and Other Tick-borne Diseases email subscription list
  • Health professionals represent more than half of subscribers

Monitored for risk

Better data means better information. We provided data to support prevention.

• Interactive risk maps to help identify risk areas
• New annual Lyme disease surveillance reports and companion infographics published on Canada.ca
• We published over 70 articles on Lyme disease that were cited in over 700 publications

Filled knowledge gaps

Science improves knowledge. We invested in science to fill knowledge gaps.

• Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund invested in 15 projects focusing on ticks and Lyme disease totalling $4.9 million
• Innovative citizen science projects
• Guidance and tools for health professionals
• Youth education and awareness raising campaigns
• $4 million over 4 years
• Partnered with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to fund the Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network and improve:
  • diagnosis
  • treatment
  • health outcomes
• Research on climate change and ticks
  • Improved our understanding of where tick populations come from and how they could grow in future