MONDAY, Nov. 12 (HealthDay News) -- A tick-borne disease that
causes symptoms similar to malaria is becoming more widespread in
the northeastern United States, researchers say.
Babesiosis invades red blood cells and is carried by deer ticks,
which also carry Lyme disease. Between 2000 and 2008, towns in
Connecticut reporting cases of babesiosis increased from 30 to 85,
according to the researchers.
Since babesiosis was first reported in Connecticut in 1991,
cases in the state have risen from three to about 100 a year.
Symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, sweats, headache and
muscle pain.
The study's findings were scheduled to be presented Monday at
the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and
Hygiene, in Atlanta.
"Today's findings underscore the shifting landscape of tick-borne diseases, whose rapid emergence can challenge the best efforts of science and medicine to diagnose, treat and prevent their occurrence," Dr. Peter Krause, a researcher at the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Conn., said in a society news release.
The information about babesiosis was accompanied by discussions
of other research into newly emerging tick-borne diseases, some of
which can cause fatal encephalitis, an inflammation of the
brain.
Dr. James Kazura, the society's president, said this "is a
real-time illustration of the inter-connectedness of human and
animal health that many people don't often think about." Ticks
carry many human diseases, he said, adding that "efforts like this
offer timely information that is of regional and clinical
importance."
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the United
States, with 20,000 to 30,000 cases reported each year. But a
growing number of diseases are carried by deer ticks and becoming
more widespread in the United States, experts warned.
Data and conclusions presented at medical meetings are typically
considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical
journal.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
has more about
tick-borne diseases.