Tick Disease With Coronavirus-Like Symptoms Is On The Rise In Michigan

"Tick disease with coronavirus-like symptoms is on the rise in Michigan," Chanel Stitt, Detroit Free Press 3 days ago.

DETROIT– Health officials are warning Michiganders to guard against anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease that mimics COVID-19 symptoms. Anaplasmosis is still rare in Michigan but the number of cases reported yearly in the state is on the rise. There were 12 documented cases of anaplasmosis in Michigan reported to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in 2019. Michigan has seen an increase over the last six years, with only four cases reported in 2014. The symptoms are much like those reported with the coronavirus: fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, headaches and fatigue. People experiencing those range of symptoms are advised to seek medical attention.

This year, trying to avoid a tick bite and its side effects may be harder than normal. Ticks are increasing because of the mild winter, which was followed by warmer temperatures. State health officials were seeing tick bites as early as December and January, so they recommend avoiding tick habitats and to take preventive measures.

The biggest worry about tick bites in recent years has been Lyme disease, which can cause skin rash, headache, fatigue, fever and, in some instances, long-term debilitating damage to joints, the heart and the nervous system.
- Seek help: It’s important to note the differences between COVID-19 and anaplasmosis, according to Dr. Paige Armstrong, who leads the U.S. Public Health Service epidemiology team of the Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch. Early treatment is recommended, especially when trying to distinguish the two diseases. Armstrong says that COVID-19 can come with losing the sense of taste or smell and congestion, which is not found in anaplasmosis. It is uncommon, but anaplasmosis can cause respiratory problems such as shortness of breath and coughing, says Armstrong.
Armstrong says to see a health care provider immediately if signs of fever, headache, muscle aches, or fatigue are present. It is also important to let the health care provider know of any recent tick bites.

Ticks are small bugs that latch on to the body and suck the blood out of both humans and pets. Oftentimes, they remain on the body and have to be removed by tweezers. *More: Mobile app takes aim at the bane of Michigan summers — ticks and Lyme disease. Annually, there are 4,000 to 6,000 cases of anaplasmosis reported and it is most common in the Northeast and upper Midwest because of the presence of blacklegged ticks, Armstrong said. The blacklegged ticks, often called deer ticks in Michigan, can transfer Lyme disease and many other pathogens. The American dog tick and the blacklegged tick are the two most common in Michigan, said MDHHS epidemiologist Kim Signs.

Prevention: Dr. Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist for the National Pest Management Association, says it's easier said than done to prevent ticks bites, but there are measures people can take to stay safe. "It's a good idea to avoid tick habitat," "There are some places that are more likely to have ticks." That includes overgrown weeds, the edges of trails, tall grass areas and in the woods. Fredericks added that people are spending more time outdoors this year because of the coronavirus outbreak, which may be an additional cause of the increase. It is recommended to use an EPA-registered tick repellent, said Fredericks. The EPA registration means the repellents are not harmful, has been tested and it's effective. >Other preventative methods include tucking or taping your pants into your hiking socks and wearing light-colored pants, said MDHHS medical entomologist Emily Dinh.
Signs says people should shower and check their bodies thoroughly after being outside to remove any loose ticks. Clothing and other camping tools can be placed in a dryer for about 10 minutes to kill any additional ticks.

- Your pets: Dr. John Howe, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says that blacklegged ticks can transmit anaplasmosis to dogs and less commonly to cats...

More, https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/tick-disease-with-coronavirus-like-symptoms-is-on-the-rise-in-michigan/ar-BB16oGj1
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* Lyme Disease in the U.S. appears in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and north-central regions. The western black-legged tick spreads the disease on the Pacific Coast. In the UK cases of Lyme disease have also been seen more recently.

-> Lyme Disease, Transmission, Centers for Disease Control: In general, adult ticks are approximately the size of a sesame seed and nymphal ticks are approximately the size of a poppy seed. The Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, is spread through the bite of infected ticks. The blacklegged tick (or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis) spreads the disease in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north-central United States. The western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) spreads the disease on the Pacific Coast.

Ticks can attach to any part of the human body but are often found in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see; they feed during the spring and summer months. Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but they are much larger and are more likely to be discovered and removed before they have had time to transmit the bacteria. Adult Ixodes ticks are most active during the cooler months of the year...
More, https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/transmission/index.html