The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessed tick-borne babesiosis trends (2011–2019) in the 10 states where reporting is mandatory. The agency found that cases increased significantly in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The largest increases were reported in Vermont (1,602%, from two to 34 cases), Maine (1,422%, from nine to 138), New Hampshire (372%, from 13 to 78), and Connecticut (338%, from 74 to 328).
Babesiosis is a multisystem disease caused by a malaria-like protozoan parasite that infects red blood cells. It can be transmitted by tick bites, through blood transfusions and organ transplants, and from mother to fetus. Originally a cattle disease, babesiosis first appeared in humans in Yugoslavia (now Croatia) in 1956 and in Colorado and Massachusetts in the late 1960s.
Babesia can increase the severity of Lyme disease, with coinfected patients more likely experienced fatigue, headache, sweats, chills, anorexia, emotional lability, nausea, conjunctivitis, and splenomegaly more frequently than those with Lyme disease alone. Babesia can also increase the duration of illness with Lyme disease.
You can read our post on how Babesia is also on the rise in humans and animals in Europe.
For an overview of the symptoms and treatments for babesiosis, Lyme, and other co-infections, watch: https://learn.invisible.international/lessons/video-22/
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