Grant: Project Grant

Lyme disease is rapidly emerging in Canada due to recent climate and environmental changes. Despite the existence of transmission 'hotspots' for Lyme disease and other tick-borne pathogens, the link between environmental risk (where infected ticks are found) and epidemiological risk (the incidence of human disease) is poorly understood at a practical scale. This project aims to identify the socioecological determinants and distribution of Lyme disease risk in a Canadian urban centre using spatial analytic and epidemiological methods. Risk maps will be developed as practical tools for local public health officer application, and population knowledge and behaviours will be characterized to inform targeted interventions. Ultimately these results will help to improve the prevention of vector-borne diseases among Canadians. It is intended that this methodology for public health risk assessment can be applied in other Canadian cities and to other emerging disease systems, in order to predict the impact of vector-borne diseases and develop appropriate response plans.