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Last year was a record-breaking year for reported cases of Lyme disease in the nation’s capital and things are likely to get worse, according to health experts.

Ottawa Public Health says 168 cases have already been reported this year, more than double the 74 cases reported in all of 2016.

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In 2007, the city only saw two reported cases of the disease, which can cause severe headaches and neck stiffness and possibly even paralysis if left untreated.

Due to global warming, 2018 is likely to see those numbers rise even higher.

“Simply put, these black-legged ticks — whose northerly range was (controlled) by longer and colder winters and summers that weren’t as warm and weren’t as long — are able to expand their range,” said Dr. Monir Taha, associate medical officer of health at Ottawa Public Health.

“We haven’t been surprised (at the higher levels of cases) and we’re expecting to see continuing increases over the coming years related to global warming.”