Sure. Thank you, Mr. Webber.
The Babesia duncani and Babesia microti are both intraerythrocytic parasites that are similar in some ways to the malaria parasite. They are not Lyme disease, but they are tick-borne infections. They're transmitted by the same ticks that carry Lyme disease, and the areas that Babesia is showing up in are the same areas of risk where Lyme-disease-carrying Ixode ticks are showing up.
Babesia is transmitted through blood transfusion. I am aware that there are jurisdictions in at least certain counties in the United States that are now actively screening for Babesia in donated blood. There has been a reported case of Babesia domestically acquired in Manitoba, so there is no question that this is a concern and a potential risk within the jurisdiction of Canada.