Rare tick disease hospitalizes Whatcom County man in first case from WA

Anaplasmosis has hospitalized a Whatcom County man in the first locally acquired instance of the tick-borne disease in a human, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

The man is in his 80s, and officials report he likely caught the disease after working in the brush in Mason County where he was bitten and infected by a tick.

Anaplasmosis has infected humans before, but this is the first time that a tick in Washington transmitted the disease.

Ticks have transmitted anaplasmosis to dogs bitten in Washington.

KIRO Newsradio Headlines: Starbucks required to rehire employees after unlawful termination

Anaplasmosis can cause mild to moderate symptoms in people, including fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, usually one to two weeks after being bitten by an infected tick. Antibiotics can treat the disease.

If left untreated, the disease can become severe and require hospitalization.

“Not all tick bites will cause disease,” said Scott Lindquist, MD, MPH, State Epidemiologist for Communicable Diseases. “However, people across Washington are at risk for tick-borne illnesses and should take precautions to prevent tick bites.”

In Washington, the western black-legged tick spreads the illness. The insects are usually found in Western Washington and the eastern slopes of the Cascades.

DOH recommendations for how to avoid tick bites can be found here.

There is no vaccine, but avoiding tick bites prevents the disease. It is not spread from person to person. Officials caution against spending extended time in tick-infested areas.

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest