Spring is in full swing, and that means more sunlight, warmer temperatures and more time spent outdoors. It also means that for most of the United States, tick season has begun. Although tick exposure can occur year round, these insects are most active during the warmer months, starting in April.
Some states with greater tick activity have started to urge citizens to take precautions when enjoying the outdoors. Ticks carry several types of disease — Lyme disease being the most common — but health experts say Americans should be aware of a rise in other tick-borne illnesses in some regions of the country, including babesiosis.
What is babesiosis?
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by a parasite called Babesia microti and spread by the black-legged tick, otherwise known as the deer tick. In the U.S., the disease is more commonly found in the Northeast and Midwest, where deer ticks are abundant.
