Illinois reports first tick infected with a bacteria that causes human ehrlichiosis
Illinois reports first tick infected with a bacteria that causes human ehrlichiosis
Illinois state health officials report detecting the first tick in the state to test positive for Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis (EME), a bacteria transmitted by blacklegged tick bites that can cause human ehrlichiosis, a severe disease that can cause complications if not treated quickly.
It was discovered by the state’s active tick surveillance system.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the blacklegged tick, also called a deer tick, was collected on May 17 by Lake County Health Department staff who receive funding through IDPH’s Environmental Health Tick Surveillance Grant program. The tick was recently tested and confirmed positive for EME by the CDC. Along with ehrlichiosis, ticks submitted by IDPH to CDC are tested for several diseases of human-health importance, including Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Borrelia miyamotoi disease.
The disease was first discovered in an Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, resident in 2009. All known human cases of EME have occurred in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
In Illinois, ehrlichiosis is primarily seen in Southern Illinois and spread through the bites of infected Lone star ticks. With the Lake County discovery, a second tick species is now known to spread ehrlichiosis in Illinois.
“The discovery of the first tick in Illinois carrying EME, a rare and serious disease, is a great reminder of the importance of our active tick surveillance program in Illinois,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Tickborne illnesses such as Lyme disease and EME can cause severe illness, especially if untreated.”
Ehrlichiosis is the general name used to describe diseases caused by the bacteria Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E. ewingii, or E. muris eauclairensis in the United States. These bacteria are spread to people primarily through the bite of infected ticks including the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis).
People with ehrlichiosis will often have fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and sometimes upset stomach.
Doxycycline is the treatment of choice for adults and children of all ages with ehrlichiosis.
Prevent illness by preventing tick bites, preventing ticks on your pets, and preventing ticks in your yard.