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The Hill
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
Lyme-disease isn't the only tick-borne threat. Doctors warn these other diseases are spreading
(NEXSTAR) – You've likely heard public health officials' repeated pleas to check yourself, your kids and your pets for tick bites, which can spread serious diseases. While Lyme disease gets the most attention – and affects the most people – there are other tick-borne bacteria and diseases that have also been found spreading in the U.S. Just last month, Connecticut researchers said they identified the first case of a longhorned tick infected with a pathogen called ehrlichia chaffeensis. Infections can give people fever chills, headaches, muscle aches and stomach issues. 'We also worry about a parasite called Babesia, which causes a disease called Babesiosis,' said Nicole Baumgarth, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in a recent briefing on tick-borne illnesses. The same ticks that carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease can carry this parasite, which then infects people's red blood cells, causing anemia and other 'very serious consequences,' Baumgarth said. Some people infected by the parasite may feel flu-like symptoms, explains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while others may have no symptoms at all. That's a problem if people live with the parasite and then donate their infected blood, which can cause harm to the people who receive it as a transfusion. Baumgarth also warned of viruses that can be spread by ticks, such as tick-borne encephalitis. It's an infection that can cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It's a bigger problem in Europe than in the U.S., she said, but here we have Heartland virus and Powassan virus to contend with. 'Both viruses are still very rare, but we have seen our first case of Heartland virus in Maryland last year, and the fact that we are now seeing these virus infections in areas that we haven't seen them before, it probably indicates the tip of the iceberg,' said Baumgarth. Because these viruses are rarer, and their symptoms can be non-specific, doctors don't usually think to test for them, Baumgarth explained. Many cases of Heartland and Powassan virus could be left uncounted as a result. 'So it would be rare that we diagnose it because we are not looking hard enough for it right now,' she said. Both viruses can present with generic first symptoms like fever, headache and vomiting, but can cause serious illness if left unchecked. Powassan virus could lead to seizures, loss of coordination and confusion in severe cases where the brain and spinal cord are impacted. Yet another concern is the tick that can cause people to become allergic to red meat if they're bitten. It's called alpha-gal syndrome and is caused by bites from the Lone Star tick, first identified in Texas. However, this type of tick is 'very aggressively' moving north and becoming a problem in other regions of the country, according to Baumgarth. Some of these rare viruses don't have a treatment or cure, so prevention is what's most important, the CDC says. You should avoid ticks by wearing long sleeves and pants in bushy and wooded areas, using bug repellent, and doing a thorough tick check after spending time outside.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
OrthoCarolina Provides Life-Changing Care to Young Woman Battling Late-Stage Lyme Disease
After 18 joint replacement and reconstruction surgeries, Meghan Bradshaw finds relief and renewed mobility through comprehensive orthopedic care CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With its commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care, OrthoCarolina continues to transform patient lives through world-class orthopedic treatment and musculoskeletal expertise. A powerful testament to this care is the story of 29-year-old Meghan Bradshaw, whose late-stage Lyme disease left her in need of over a dozen joint replacement and reconstruction surgeries. Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: The complexities of Bradshaw's case demanded the expertise of multiple specialists within OrthoCarolina, including a bilateral hip replacement by Dr. John Masonis, bilateral shoulder replacements by Dr. Shadley Schiffern, and multiple hand surgeries by Dr. Glenn Gaston, as well as dedicated support from Physician Assistant Jeff Dabkowski and a consistent clinical team. Beyond surgical intervention, OrthoCarolina also worked to connect Bradshaw with a Lyme disease specialist to help navigate her diagnosis, which had gone untreated for years. Through OrthoCarolina's holistic approach, which emphasizes the entire patient experience, Bradshaw was able to manage long-term IV antibiotic therapy at home while continuing her orthopedic rehabilitation. "Meghan's case of Lyme arthropathy was one of the most advanced that I've encountered," said Dr. Glenn Gaston, a hand specialist at OrthoCarolina. "She showed extraordinary resilience throughout her entire journey. Our goal wasn't just to restore joint function, but it was also to help give her life back." Bradshaw's health struggles began in 2015 shortly after graduating from college. In 2017, she was misdiagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, seeking treatment through immunosuppressants and chemotherapy. While the treatment masked the symptoms temporarily, it failed to address the underlying cause, thus worsening her condition. By 2019, specialists at the Cleveland Clinic identified the real issue: late-stage Lyme disease, paired with Babesia and Bartonella co-infections. Due to the lack of proper diagnosis and treatment, extensive Lyme-induced joint deterioration had already occurred. "By that time, I had already lost so much function," Bradshaw said. "I needed surgeries every few months just to stay mobile." Between 2017 and 2022, she underwent 11 joint replacements, including bilateral hip and shoulder surgeries and multiple hand reconstructions. OrthoCarolina also facilitated a consultation with a Lyme disease specialist and supported her long-term IV antibiotic therapy from home, coordinated with her family. "After all of these surgeries, my joints feel amazing," Bradshaw added. "OrthoCarolina gave me my future back." Now known as the "Bionic Woman" for her record number of surgeries at such a young age, Bradshaw has become a national advocate for Lyme disease awareness. She has shared her story through media outlets including Today, Business Insider, and numerous health-focused podcasts, and has met with more than 100 members of Congress to champion the needs of those living with tick-borne illnesses. Bradshaw's case highlights not only the life-altering consequences of untreated tick-borne illness but also the importance of early diagnosis and comprehensive orthopedic care. Lyme disease, primarily transmitted by black-legged ticks, can cause serious complications if not detected early, including neurological disorders, cardiovascular issues, and in rare cases, rapid joint deterioration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly half a million Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year. Early symptoms often include fever, fatigue, and a distinctive "bull's-eye" rash, but misdiagnosis is common, particularly in areas where Lyme disease is less prevalent. "Tick bites can seem harmless, but the long-term effects can be devastating," Bradshaw said. "If sharing my experience helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, it's worth it." For more information about OrthoCarolina's services, visit To learn more about Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses, visit About OrthoCarolinaSince 1922, OrthoCarolina has been a distinguished and reputable physician-owned and physician-led orthopedic practice that prioritizes delivering exceptional patient-centered care and pioneering solutions. An industry leader in orthopedic treatment, research, and education, they provide world-class musculoskeletal care across the Carolinas with 40+ locations and seven Orthopedic Urgent Care Centers. OrthoCarolina consistently pushes the boundaries of medical advancements and actively contributes to the training of new specialists, while working to enhance accessibility to unparalleled orthopedic care. Learn more at View original content: SOURCE OrthoCarolina Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Not Just Lyme: Two other tick-borne illnesses quickly spreading in CNY
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — After a classic Central New York winter and a wet start to spring, most of us are eager to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. But we're not the only ones. As temperatures rise, ticks become more active, and this year is no exception. So, what is different? It's not just Lyme Disease you have to watch out for. Two other tick-borne illnesses are quickly spreading in Central New York, and there's a good chance you've never heard their names. 'Over the past four, five years is where I've started to notice a pretty drastic increase in Anaplasma,' Dr. Kris Paolino, an infectious disease specialist at Upstate University Hospital, said. Dr. Paolino explained that Anaplasma can lead to severe health complications if not caught early. 'I've seen patients end up in the ICU. And every year, you hear about one or two cases that end in an unfortunate death,' Dr. Paolino said. The data tells the same story. In 2019, roughly 2% of the ticks tested at the Upstate Tick Testing Lab carried Anaplasma. In the first few months of 2025, that number jumped to 18%. It's not just infected ticks, as more people are getting sick, too. Between 2016 and 2020, Dr. Paolino treated just two confirmed cases of Anaplasmosis. In 2024 alone, he had 19 confirmed cases. There's no bullseye rash here — with Anaplasmosis, he's on the lookout for other symptoms. 'Really high fevers, severe headaches, lab abnormalities like low white blood cells, or liver abnormalities,' Dr. Paolino said. And there's another disease gaining ground in Central New York: Babesia, a parasite that can cause Babesiosis. Both illnesses can be dangerous, especially for young children and older adults. It's important to note that not all tick bites make you sick, but knowing what the tick is carrying can make a difference. NewsChannel 9's Rachel Polansky learned about it firsthand when she found a tick on her daughter's head. The tick, which she later learned was an engorged female deer tick, had likely been on her daughter's scalp for two days, which is more than enough time to transmit disease. Polansky brought it to the Upstate Tick Testing Lab. The next day, she got the results. The tick carried Anaplasma. Once the pediatrician learned about the testing results, he started Polansky's daughter on a two-week course of antibiotics. 'If it is treated, it's not going to come back again,' said Dr. Saravanan Thangamni, who runs the Upstate Tick Testing Lab. Dr. Thangamani and his team have tested more than 35,000 ticks since 2019. Over one-third of them carried at least one dangerous pathogen. Based on the number of tick submissions this spring, he expects a very busy season ahead. 'Everybody wants to get out. It's the same thing with the ticks. As soon as the ground thaws, ticks come out looking for a host,' Dr. Thangamani added. Thus, how can you protect yourself? Don't let fear keep you indoors. But know the risks — and make tick checks a daily habit. 'We put a seat belt on every time we get in a car, or at least we should. It's a natural thing we do. We should be doing the same thing with tick checks in upstate New York,' Dr. Paolino added. It cost Polansky $20 to get the tick tested. Fees range from $10 to $80, depending on where you live and what pathogens you are testing for. Those in Onondaga County get a discount because of an agreement with the Onondaga County Health Department. Click here to read more about tick testing fees. Insurance doesn't cover tick testing, but it gave Polansky answers, and it helped her daughter's doctor make a quick decision to put her on antibiotics. You can mail ticks to the Upstate Tick Testing Lab or drop them off in person. Click here for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scientific American
12-05-2025
- Health
- Scientific American
A Tick-Borne Disease That Acts like Malaria Is Becoming More Common
Ellen Stromdahl was at a garden party in coastal Virginia in June 2023 when her friend Albert Duncan stood up from where he was sitting and abruptly fainted. Duncan is an outdoorsman in his mid-80s — still active and healthy for his age. Stromdahl, an entomologist who works for the United States Army Public Health Center, the Army's public health arm, rushed to his side. As Duncan came to, she noticed that his tanned skin was tinged with yellow. 'This man looks jaundiced,' she thought to herself. Duncan spent the next several days in and out of the emergency room. His doctors administered countless blood tests and ruled out the usual suspects for an octogenarian — heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia. Finally, on Stromdahl's recommendation, Duncan's wife, Nancy, asked his doctors to test him for babesiosis, a rare malaria-like disease caused by microscopic parasites carried by black-legged ticks. The test came back positive not just for babesiosis but also for Lyme disease, another far more common illness caused by the same type of tick. If Duncan's doctors had caught the infections sooner, they could have eradicated them with a combination of oral antibiotics and antiparasitic medications. But Duncan, weeks into his illness, needed a procedure called an exchange transfusion. Doctors pumped all of the infected blood out of his body and replaced it with donor blood. About two weeks after the garden party, he was well again. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Babesiosis is rare — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports around 2,000 cases in the United States every year. But what made Duncan's case even more unusual is that he contracted babesiosis in Virginia, a state that registered just 17 locally acquired cases of the disease between 2016 and 2023. It got Stromdahl wondering if babesiosis could be becoming more common in Virginia and neighboring states. She spent the following two years working with a team of 21 tick researchers from across the eastern U.S. and South Africa to assess the prevalence of Babesia microti, the parasite that causes babesiosis, in ticks and humans in those states from 2009 to 2024. The results of the study, published in April in the Journal of Medical Entomology, reveal that the Babesia parasite is rapidly expanding through the mid-Atlantic. This shift, which has coincided with changing weather patterns, could pose a serious threat to people in communities where the disease has long been considered rare. 'Wherever we found positive ticks, there were cases,' Stromdahl said. 'They're small numbers, but that's why we want to give the early warning before more people get sick.' One in four cases of babesiosis is asymptomatic. People who do develop symptoms, especially older adults and immunocompromised people, can get quite sick with fever, chills, anemia, fatigue, and jaundice. Untreated, the parasites, which infect and destroy red blood cells, can lead to organ failure and death. Babesiosis is typically found in the Northeast and the Upper Midwest. Between 2015 and 2022, case counts in the states that regularly report the disease — Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin — rose by 9 percent every year, a development researchers attribute in large part to warmer temperatures caused by climate change, which afford black-legged ticks more opportunities to bite people in a given year and more habitat to spread into. Climatic conditions in the southern mid-Atlantic have always been welcoming for ticks, but warmer-than-average winters that have been occurring with grim regularity in recent years are turning some states in the region into year-round breeding sites for ticks and small rodents like mice, chipmunks, and shrews — the critters that carry Lyme bacteria and the Babesia parasite in their blood. Above-normal annual rainfall, which saturates the soil and adds to overall humidity in the region, also encourages the proliferation of ticks. The 2023 to 2024 winter season across much of the mid-Atlantic was 4 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than normal, and many states had some of their wettest Decembers and Januaries on record. Stromdahl has been studying the movement of ticks and the diseases they carry for decades. She's seen it all — including the northward spread of the Lone Star tick, which can impart a lifelong, sometimes deadly reaction to red meat. But even she was shocked to discover how far the Babesia parasite had spread. She and her co-authors collected 1,310 ticks in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware and found the B. microti parasite in all three states, indicating that there is potential for more human cases across the southern mid-Atlantic. None of those states had ever found the parasite in ticks before. Many of the ticks the authors looked at were also infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The Lyme-babesiosis connection is an active area of research. Experts suspect ticks infected with one of the diseases are more predisposed to be infected with the other, but they still don't know why exactly. What they do know is that Lyme is a harbinger of babesiosis. Previous studies on tick-borne illness found that areas that saw rising cases of Lyme disease from the 1980s to the early 2000s reported more babesiosis cases one to two decades later. 'The findings in the Stromdahl paper are consistent with what we've seen in the Northeast: Babesia infection seems to spread where Lyme infection is already present,' said Shannon LaDeau, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies who was not involved in the study. The authors also examined where human cases of babesiosis were clustered. Of particular concern were two hot spots: the five counties surrounding and encompassing the city of Baltimore and the Delmarva Peninsula — an 180-mile-long coastal landmass comprising parts of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Fifty-five percent of Maryland's cases were from the Baltimore area, and some 38 percent of cases from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia combined were from the Delmarva Peninsula. Experts believe babesiosis cases are severely underreported due to a lack of physician awareness. Stromdahl and her colleagues hope their findings will inspire health departments in the mid-Atlantic to recognize that babesiosis is a growing concern, conduct surveillance for infected ticks, and put out public health warnings. If doctors in the region know to test for babesiosis, severe cases like Duncan's can be avoided. 'Jurisdictions in the southern mid-Atlantic region should expect babesiosis cases,' the authors warn. 'Tick range expansion is occurring at such a precipitous rate that public health guidance regarding tick-borne disease prevention and treatment can be rapidly rendered obsolete.' Climate change isn't the only environmental factor driving the rising density and expansion of tick populations. Efforts over the past few decades to reforest barren areas have encouraged herds of white-tailed deer, animals that pick up ticks and carry them miles before the arachnids drop off into the leaf litter, to proliferate. Declining rates of recreational and subsistence hunting are adding to deer overpopulations. At the same time, an ongoing expansion of suburban development into forested zones is putting more people in contact with ticks and the diseases they carry. 'The most important take-home is that tick-borne disease is a growing risk,' LaDeau said. The big question as tick populations increase, she added, is to figure out where and when infected ticks overlap with people. 'There is still a huge need for data to understand how often these infected ticks come into contact with humans.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A malaria-like disease spread by ticks is moving into Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Ellen Stromdahl was at a garden party in coastal Virginia in June 2023 when her friend Albert Duncan stood up from where he was sitting and abruptly fainted away. Duncan is an outdoorsman in his mid-80s — still active and healthy for his age. Stromdahl, an entomologist who works for the United States Army Public Health Center, the army's public health arm, rushed to his side. As Duncan came to, she noticed that his tanned skin was tinged with yellow. 'This man looks jaundiced,' she thought to herself. Duncan spent the next several days in and out of the emergency room. His doctors administered countless blood tests and ruled out the usual suspects for an octogenarian — heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia. Finally, on Stromdahl's recommendation, Duncan's wife, Nancy, asked his doctors to test him for babesiosis, a rare malaria-like disease caused by microscopic parasites carried by black-legged ticks. The test came back positive not just for babesiosis, but also for Lyme disease, another, far more common illness caused by the same type of tick. If Duncan's doctors had caught the infections sooner they could have eradicated them with a combination of oral antibiotics and antiparasitic medications. But Duncan, weeks into his illness, needed a procedure called an exchange transfusion. Doctors pumped all of the infected blood out of his body and replaced it with donor blood. About two weeks after the garden party, he was well again. Babesiosis is rare — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports around 2,000 cases in the United States every year. But what made Duncan's case even more unusual is that he contracted babesiosis in Virginia, a state that registered just 17 locally-acquired cases of the disease between 2016 and 2023. It got Stromdahl wondering if babesiosis could be becoming more common in Virginia and neighboring states. She spent the following two years working with a team of 21 tick researchers from across the eastern U.S. and South Africa to assess the prevalence of Babesia microti, the parasite that causes babesiosis, in ticks and humans in those states from 2009 to 2024. The results of the study, published in April in the Journal of Medical Entomology, reveal that the Babesia parasite is rapidly expanding through the mid-Atlantic. This shift, which has coincided with changing weather patterns, could pose a serious threat to people in communities where the disease has long been considered rare. 'Wherever we found positive ticks, there were cases,' Stromdahl said. 'They're small numbers, but that's why we want to give the early warning before more people get sick.' Purple blobs clustered on a green background that show what a Babesiosis infection in blood looks like under a microscope. One in four cases of babesiosis are asymptomatic. People who do develop symptoms, especially older adults and immunocompromised people, can get quite sick with fever, chills, anemia, fatigue, and jaundice. Untreated, the parasites, which infect and destroy red blood cells, can lead to organ failure and death. Babesiosis is typically found in the Northeast and the Upper Midwest. Between 2015 and 2022, case counts in the states that regularly report the disease — Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin — rose by 9 percent every year, a development researchers attribute in large part to warmer temperatures caused by climate change, which afford black-legged ticks more opportunities to bite people in a given year and more habitat to spread into. Climatic conditions in the southern mid-Atlantic have always been welcoming for ticks, but warmer-than-average winters that have been occurring with grim regularity in recent years are turning some states in the region into year-round breeding sites for ticks and small rodents like mice, chipmunks, and shrews — the critters that carry Lyme bacteria and the Babesia parasite in their blood. Above-normal annual rainfall, which saturates the soil and adds to overall humidity in the region, also encourages the proliferation of ticks. The 2023 to 2024 winter season across much of the mid-Atlantic was 4 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than normal, and many states had some of their wettest Decembers and Januaries on record. Stromdahl has been studying the movement of ticks and the diseases they carry for decades. She's seen it all — including the northward spread of the Lone Star tick, which can impart a lifelong, sometimes deadly reaction to red meat. But even she was shocked to discover how far the Babesia parasite had spread. She and her co-authors collected 1,310 ticks in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware and found the B. microti parasite in all three states, indicating that there is potential for more human cases across the southern mid-Atlantic. None of those states had ever found the parasite in ticks before. Many of the ticks the authors looked at were also infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The Lyme-babesiosis connection is an active area of research. Experts suspect ticks infected with one of the diseases are more predisposed to be infected with the other, but they still don't know why, exactly. What they do know is that Lyme is a harbinger of babesiosis. Previous studies on tick-borne illness found that areas that saw rising cases of Lyme disease from the 1980s to the early 2000s reported more babesiosis cases one to two decades later. 'The findings in the Stromdahl paper are consistent with what we've seen in the Northeast: Babesia infection seems to spread where Lyme infection is already present,' said Shannon LaDeau, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies who was not involved in the study. A close-up of pink hands holding a clear plastic tube containing three small black ticks The authors also examined where human cases of babesiosis were clustered. Of particular concern were two hotspots: the five counties surrounding and encompassing the city of Baltimore, and the Delmarva Peninsula — an 180-mile-long coastal landmass comprising parts of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Fifty-five percent of Maryland's cases were from the Baltimore area, and some 38 percent of cases from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia combined were from the Delmarva Peninsula. Experts believe babesiosis cases are severely underreported due to lack of physician awareness. Stromdahl and her colleagues hope their findings will inspire health departments in the mid-Atlantic to recognize that babesiosis is a growing concern, conduct surveillance for infected ticks, and put out public health warnings. If doctors in the region know to test for babesiosis, severe cases like Duncan's can be avoided. 'Jurisdictions in the southern mid-Atlantic region should expect babesiosis cases,' the authors warn. 'Tick range expansion is occurring at such a precipitous rate that public health guidance regarding tick-borne disease prevention and treatment can be rapidly rendered obsolete.' Climate change isn't the only environmental factor driving the rising density and expansion of tick populations. Efforts over the past few decades to reforest barren areas have encouraged herds of whitetailed deer, animals that pick up ticks and carry them miles before the arachnids drop off into the leaf litter, to proliferate. Declining rates of recreational and subsistence hunting are adding to deer overpopulations. At the same time, an ongoing expansion of suburban development pushing into forested zones is putting more people into contact with ticks and the diseases they carry. 'The most important take-home is that tick-borne disease is a growing risk,' LaDeau said. The big question as tick populations increase, she added, is to figure out where and when infected ticks overlap with people. 'There is still a huge need for data to understand how often these infected ticks come into contact with humans.' This story was originally published by Grist with the headline A malaria-like disease spread by ticks is moving into Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia on May 7, 2025.
