Dangerous Disease From Ticks is Now Officially an Endemic in All of New England

It's worse than Lyme disease, and spreading faster, according to LymeDisease.org.

It was just Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island where the disease called Babesiosis or Babesia, which we humans catch from ticks, was an endemic.  Now, according to the CDC, we can add New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont to the list, making this a full-on significant and major issue for New England.

The CDC says that it's caused by microscopic parasites that infect our red blood cells and most commonly spread through deer ticks, also known as black-legged ticks.

This disease can be tough stuff, too.  According to Boston.com, some of us who get infected with Babesiosis means flu-like symptoms like a fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, or fatigue. Seeing a doctor is a must (and even the ER if necessary) if you have a weak immune system, other health issues and diseases, or no spleen.

According to Boston.com, Yale University researchers in New Haven, Connecticut, and Tufts Medical Center in Boston say this is here to stay, as warmer winters mean ticks live longer and spread the disease more frequently.  Add that with Lyme disease already in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, and this just adds to the concern and warnings.

There's no vaccine for either disease.

Click here to learn the best ways to prevent babesiosis and Lyme disease, which includes insect repellent when you're out for extended periods of time, especially in more wooded areas that could simply be our own backyards.  Also conduct full-body exams on yourself, children, and pets.