Fascinatingly, babesiosis has suddenly become endemic to New York. From 6 cases per year between 2001-08, it’s now up to 100+ cases per year in the region. Still nothing compared to the 4600 cases of Lyme disease, but nearly rivaling the 213 cases of ehrlichiosis.
Hospitalized patients had fever and hemolytic anemia, and were treated with azithromycin and atovaquone. 5.6% case-fatality rate, although, the parasitemia in these cases was exacerbated by underlying medical conditions. Won’t see this down here in Texas, but the public health surveillance responsibility of Emergency Medicine is always important to remember.
“Babesiosis in Lower Hudson Valley, New York, USA.”
www.cdc.gov/eid/content/17/5/pdfs/10-1334.pdf