A recent study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a growing number of cases of babesiosis resulting from blood transfusions. Babesiosis is a “potentially fatal but treatable” disease caused by infection with a tick-borne parasite known as Babesia.
More than 150 cases of babesiosis were reported from 1979 to 2009, with more than 75 percent occurring within the last nine years of the study. Similar to Lyme disease and other tick bite-related illnesses, most people with babesiosis may not be aware they are infected—which can be particularly dangerous in the case of blood donors.
While the problem is nationwide, most cases of have occurred in two prominent U.S. regions: the Northeast and the Upper Midwest. Babesia infection can present symptoms similar to those associated with malaria, and the disease poses a significant threat for older adults as well as those with weakened immune systems.
Currently no FDA-approved testing for Babesia is available for blood donors, but experts are working to develop a screening test to help prevent infection. To read more about the disease and the ongoing efforts for prevention, read the CDC press release or visit their site at http://www.cdc.org/.
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