Maryland Residents Face New Summer Health Risk as Ticks Spread Co-Infections

As tick season intensifies across Maryland, health experts are warning residents about a growing public health risk: deer ticks are increasingly carrying not just Lyme disease, but also a second dangerous illness called babesiosis. The dual-threat raises the stakes for outdoor enthusiasts, military personnel, and families alike, as a single tick bite could now lead to more severe and difficult-to-diagnose infections.

Babesiosis, a malaria-like disease more common in the Northeast and Midwest, is now appearing across the mid-Atlantic, including Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. The spread is attributed to changing environmental conditions, which have expanded the range of disease-carrying blacklegged ticks. Symptoms of babesiosis, such as fatigue, fever, and chills, closely mimic those of other summer ailments, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis. Public health experts emphasize the importance of clinicians recognizing this risk—even when patients don’t recall a tick bite.

Defense Health Agency researchers recently confirmed the presence of Babesia microti, the parasite responsible for babesiosis, in local tick populations. These findings suggest that the disease is following the same geographic expansion seen with Lyme disease in previous decades. Military field training operations and outdoor recreation activities make personnel and residents especially vulnerable, prompting concern about reduced readiness and potential health setbacks for service members and their families.

To track and combat the rise in co-infections, the Defense Health Agency’s MilTICK program allows anyone under the Department of Defense to submit ticks for testing. The 30-year-old initiative not only informs individuals about their tick exposure but also collects data that helps scientists monitor the spread of tick-borne illnesses nationwide. The program is part of a larger effort that includes partnerships with state and academic entities to share research and inform public health responses.

Residents are urged to take preventive steps, including wearing treated clothing, using insect repellent, performing thorough tick checks, and promptly removing any found ticks. Officials recommend paying close attention to hidden areas of the body after time outdoors, such as the scalp, armpits, and behind the knees. These measures are critical to reducing risk, especially as tick-borne threats continue to rise in the region.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from the Defense Health Agency press release

---