As reported in Times Union; this was a year where the numbers of many contagious diseases saw steep declines as the world stepped up in handwashing and mask-wearing. In the Capital Region, one tick-borne disease had the opportunity to take hold.
As we adjusted to socially distancing and many found solace in the safety of nature, officials are warning us to wear pants and check for tics. Local and state health officials in Warren and Rensselaer county have reported huge uptake in cases of anaplasmosis, a rare but ever more common pathogen spread by ticks, which can trigger uncomfortable symptoms such as fever and chills, and in worse cases, can be lethal.
Warren County Health Services Director, Ginelle Jones, has spoken on the concerning nature of this increase. People must remain vigilant to avoid ticks and aim for prompt diagnosis and treatment if they are bitten and begin experiencing symptoms.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, or anaplasmosis, is a tic-borne pathogen, causing symptoms within the week of the bite including nausea, fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea. Without proper medical attention, it can progress, causing bleeding, respiration issues, and organ failure, sometimes resulting in death. It can be particularly troublesome for people with already compromised immune systems, including the elderly and sick.
The disease is passed by tiny ticks around the size of a poppy seed and doesn’t leave a clear indication at the site of infection like Lyme’s characteristic bullseye.
Rising Reports In the Capital Region
In Warren County, Health officials reported that the year had seen an overall uptake in cases this year, with nearly four times the number of cases from the year before. That totaled around 40 diagnosed cases already reported to Warren County Health Services, more than double over the same period of 2018 and 2019 combined.
Another troubling finding showed reports of infection came from all over the county and in surrounding districts— implying the pathogen is already locally widespread and has potentially affected even more county members than reported.
In neighboring Rensselaer County, officials also addressed the new bug, calling for increased vigilance in the outdoors in order to prevent the spread. Rensselaer County Public Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas said,
“We are seeing an increase in tick bites and tick-borne illnesses at our Health Department and in the region. Residents should be aware of the increased tick activity and be ready to protect themselves as they enjoy the outdoors this summer.”
Tick-Borne Illness’s Spreading in the Region
The state’s Health Department tracks the spread of tick-borne diseases each year, checking in twice annually to determine which pathogens are on the rise. They found that while some diseases begin in one region, as Lyme was once primarily found in Long Island in the 90s; they can make their way along the coastline, with new hotspots popping up in neighboring New York and Hudson Valley.
Anaplasmosis isn’t the most common disease spread by ticks— many New Yorkers will be familiar with the conspicuous Lyme disease. Yet officials in the capital region in the east, including Albany, Troy, Schenectady, and Saratoga, have noted the new disease spreading amongst the critters has come of note.
The acting director of the state Department of Health’s bureau of communicable diseases, Bryon Backenson, explained, it seems this region is the current homeland. He said,
“In the Capital District we have seen a lot of anaplasmosis cases. It does match with the area where we see the highest rate of ticks being infected with the pathogen that causes anaplasmosis.”
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The rise of tick-borne diseases can be linked to climate change, which increasingly allows the bugs to survive the winter and carry diseases into the following season. They also note that the ever-longer summers allow them to spread for a greater portion of the year, and carry them into regions once too cold for them to take root.
Now the state is putting in efforts to raise awareness of the new pathogens, so doctors will be better able to differentiate the diseases and take proper measures. They are warning that symptoms make begin to show within a day to five days of the bite and can be easy miss, due to the tiny predator and inconspicuous infection site.
They advise locals to remember the risk, make sure to cover up when going through grassy areas, and take a quick tick-check after leaving. If they find a sucker, removing them with a pair of tweezers is advised.
