You might be familiar with Lyme disease, an infection caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. While Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States, there is another disease that is increasing in prevalence: babesiosis. According to a CDC report from March 2023, babesiosis has now established itself in 10 states in the Northeast and Midwest regions.
What is babesiosis?
Babesiosis is an illness caused by a parasite called Babesia microti, which invades and infects red blood cells. It is transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks. Typically, the tick needs to remain attached to a person for at least 36 hours to transmit the parasite.
What are the signs and symptoms of babesiosis?
You may or may not notice the tick bite mark on your skin, so your symptoms could be the earliest indication of an infection.
While some individuals with babesiosis may not experience any symptoms, the most common signs include a combination of:
- Severe flu-like symptoms such as a high fever (up to 104°F), chills, and night sweats.
- General discomfort or feeling unwell.
- Intense headaches.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea.
- Fatigue.
These symptoms can manifest within one to nine weeks or even several months after the initial infection. In some cases, babesiosis can cause a type of anemia called hemolytic anemia, where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced. Signs and symptoms of this form of anemia include fatigue, dizziness, weakness, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
Babesiosis can be a severe and life-threatening disease, especially for adults over the age of 65 and individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those without a spleen or those undergoing biological therapy or chemotherapy.
Why are babesiosis cases increasing?
Until recently, babesiosis was consistently present in seven states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
However, the recent CDC report has added three more Northeastern states to the list: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The number of cases in these states between 2011 and 2019 either matched or exceeded the case rates of the original seven states. Vermont witnessed a rise in cases from two to 34, Maine from nine to 138, and New Hampshire from 13 to 78. This trend is concerning.
Multiple factors contribute to the increase in babesiosis cases.One factor may be rising temperatures caused by climate change, which make ticks more active earlier in the spring and later in the fall. Other factors include an increase in the deer population and more construction of houses in wooded areas.
How is this tick-borne illness diagnosed and treated?
Babesiosis is diagnosed through a blood test.
Treatment usually involves specific antibiotics that differ from those used for Lyme disease. In some cases, a combination of antibiotics and antimalarial medication may be prescribed. The typical duration of treatment is seven to ten days, but a longer course may be recommended for individuals with compromised immune systems.
Is it possible to have both Lyme disease and babesiosis?
Yes, it is possible to contract both diseases, although each can also occur separately. Some black-legged ticks that carry the Lyme bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi) may also carry the Babesia parasite. Lyme disease and babesiosis share similar symptoms, such as fever, headache, and fatigue.
How can you prevent tick-borne illnesses?
Tick exposure can happen throughout the year, but ticks are most active during the warmer months. Babesiosis cases mostly occur from late spring to early autumn.
Ticks reside in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Any outdoor activity can potentially expose you or your pets to infected ticks, including camping, walking dogs, and gardening.
To minimize the risk of babesiosis and other tick-borne diseases, the CDC recommends the following preventive measures:
- Use EPA-recommended insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, which can protect boots, clothing, and camping gear even after several washes.
- Wear light-colored pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a hat when engaging in outdoor activities.
- Try to avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails.
- After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check clothing, pets, backpacks, and gear for ticks.
- Upon returning indoors, remove shoes and put clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks. Additionally, conduct a full-body tick check during a shower within two hours of coming indoors.