Cases Of Tick-Borne Babesiosis On The Rise

NPR (6/10, Aubrey) reports, “The first case of babesiosis in the U.S. was identified on Nantucket Island in 1969. The tick-borne parasitic disease is endemic in New England, and as deer ticks expand their range it’s now found from Virginia to Maine as well as the upper Midwest, from Michigan to Minnesota.” Cases have risen significantly over the past decade, according to the CDC. Treatments include “a seven to 10 days course of an antibiotic, azithromycin combined with atovaquone, which are both prescription medications. But, sometimes, this isn’t enough to kill off the parasite, and there’s a risk of relapse.” Researchers are investigating anti-malarial tafenoquine as a possible treatment.