Babesiosis

Babesiosis is a rare, sometimes severe, tick-borne disease caused by parasites (Babesia microti) that infect red blood cells.

Babesiosis is diagnosed based on a physician’s assessment of a patient’s symptoms, history of exposure to blacklegged ticks and laboratory testing. 

Many people who are infected do not have any symptoms. Some people with babesiosis will have mild flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea or fatigue. It can also lead to a special type of anemia called hemolytic anemia (a condition where red blood cells are destroyed) and, in rare cases, death. 

Babesiosis is spread through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. The blacklegged tick is found in eastern and central Canada, including New Brunswick, and the Western blacklegged tick is found in western Canada. In rare cases, babesiosis is transmitted by transfusion of contaminated blood, during pregnancy or solid organ transplantation. Babesiosis is not spread from person to person.

The risk is highest in geographic areas where both the tick species and the pathogen that can cause human disease are found. Cases have been reported in southeastern and south-central Canada. Being older, people with weakened immune systems (for example, those who have cancer, HIV/AIDS or a transplant), serious health conditions or without a spleen are at risk for severe illness. 

Consult a health-care provider for advice and treatment. Prescription medicines may be used to effectively treat babesiosis. It is possible to become infected with babesiosis and other tick-borne disease at the same time, so be sure to talk with your health-care provider and seek medical attention if you become sick after a tick bite.

Health-care providers and laboratories must report cases of babesiosis to Public Health. Public Health staff may interview the health-care provider and patient (or caregivers) to find out how the infection occurred, identify other people at risk of infection, implement control measures and provide other advice.

The best prevention is through awareness. Find out where blacklegged ticks are most likely to be found. Protect yourself against tick bites with tick repellent, check for ticks after coming indoors, remove ticks safely, contact a health-care provider or local pharmacist for assessment of tick bites and see a health-care provider if you have symptoms of tick-borne diseases. 

For additional information, contact your health-care provider, local Public Health office or Tele-Care 811.