Maine reports dozens more anaplasmosis cases compared to 2013

Commentary: Tick-borne diseases are climbing in Maine. Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis cases are rising, and the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has now been reported. In Vermont, 10% of the ticks were found to contain EEE, and it has also been found in mosquitos and mammals in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

“EEE is a more serious disease than West Nile Virus (WNV) and carries a high mortality rate for those who contract the serious encephalitis form of the illness. Symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, and sore throat. There is no specific treatment for the disease, which can lead to seizures and coma”. Tick-borne encephalitis viruses, like the Powassan virus, have also been shown to be increasing in New York. With the rise of multiple tick-borne bacteria, viruses and parasites in the northeast, and the important role that these co-infections play in keeping Lyme-MSIDS patients ill, the need for increased education, prevention, and research to improve diagnostic and treatment regimens is essential.

Maine reports dozens more anaplasmosis cases compared to 2013, by Robert Herriman, Outbreak News Today