Anaplasmosis identified as Canada’s second‑most common tick‑borne disease

A new practice article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal highlights an emerging public‑health concern: anaplasmosis, now recognized as the second‑most common tick‑borne illness in Canada. The report warns that, beyond the well‑known threat of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis is spreading across the country’s expanding tick habitats and can produce a spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from fever, headache and muscle aches to more severe complications such as myocarditis, a potentially life‑threatening inflammation of the heart muscle.

The CMAJ article outlines current diagnostic challenges, noting that the disease often mimics other febrile illnesses and may be missed without specific laboratory testing. It recommends heightened awareness among clinicians, especially in regions with rising tick activity, and emphasizes prompt antibiotic therapy to reduce morbidity. Public health officials are urged to incorporate anaplasmosis into surveillance programs and to educate the public on preventive measures, such as proper tick removal and the use of repellents, to curb the growing incidence of this tick‑borne infection.