Babesiosis, a rare malaria-like disease that’s spread by black-legged ticks, may now be spreading to the DMV area as discovered by a new study, as written in Grist. Lyme Disease is scary enough, but you likely haven’t heard of babesiosis which can be asymptomatic but deadly.
The study was prompted by a case of babesiosis that affected 80-something year old Albert Duncan, who fainted at a friend’s wedding and was discovered to have contracted the rare disease as well as Lyme Disease. In fact, he had contracted it in Virginia weeks prior and since he wasn’t aware, he had to get a blood transfusion in order to eradicate the disease. In order to avoid a similar outcome, a team of 22 tick researchers looked into whether or not cases were escalating in the DMV area.
The newly published study in the Journal of Medical Entomology confirmed that the Babesia parasite is rapidly expanding in the DMV area, coinciding with changing weather patterns. Emerging cases are coinciding with Lyme disease, although it’s important to note that babesiosis is sometimes asymptomatic while others experience flu-like symptoms. Untreated, the parasite can lead to organ failure and potentially death.
But there’s no need to panic yet. An article in the Baltimore Banner stated, “Of the ticks tested in Maryland in the study, less than 3% had the parasites for babesiosis, compared to about 20% to 30% with the bacteria for Lyme. Only one of six species, the deer tick, is responsible for the diseases.”
The study’s main purpose was to increase awareness of contracting babesiosis, and to alert doctors so that they take any tick bites seriously by not only prescribing antibiotics for Lyme disease, but antiparasitic medications as well, especially in those who are immunocompromised or elderly.
So, how can you stay safe? Follow best-practices for avoiding ticks, such as wearing longer clothes and tucking pants into socks, wearing lighter colors to spot ticks, avoiding tall brush or off-path hiking, remove ticks as soon as possible if you’ve been bit, and following up with a doctor if you start to feel sick.