2012 Data Archive

Note: This page contains data current as of November 26, 2013. Additional data, updates, or corrections received after that date are not reflected in this summary. For the most up-to-date summary, visit Data & Statistics landing page.

Babesiosis

In 2012, 22 states conducted surveillance for babesiosis: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

For 2012, among these 22 states where babesiosis is reportable, CDC was notified of 911 cases of babesiosis.

Babesiosis became a nationally notifiable condition in January 2011, which means that CDC is notified of the number of cases that meet the case definition from those health departments where babesiosis is reportable. Surveillance data for 2011 were summarized in an MMWR article. Data for 2012 are summarized below.

Geography 

In 2012, the 911 cases were reported in residents of 14 of the 22 states (Figure 1). The other 8 states reported no cases.

Most (96%) of the cases were reported by 7 states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Tickborne transmission of Babesia parasites is well established in these states.

Seasonality 

Although cases of babesiosis can occur during any month, the majority of people reported getting sick during the spring or summer months. Among the 638 patients for whom data were available, 459 (72%) had symptom onset dates during June–August (Figure 2).

Patient Characteristics 

For 2012, the median age of the patients was 62 years, with a range from less than 1 year to 98 years (Figure 3); 63% were male, 34% were female, and the sex was unknown for 3%.

For the 633 patients with information available, 285 (45%) were hospitalized. The median length of hospital stay was 5 days (range: 1 – 32 days). Signs and symptoms were not reported for every patient. When information was available, fever was the most frequently reported sign or symptom (85%; n=557/658 patients), followed by anemia (68%; n=240/351) and thrombocytopenia (68%; n=227/333).

Routes of Transmission 

Of the 341 patients for whom data were available, only 147 (43%) recalled having a tick bite in the 8 weeks before symptom onset. Because the ticks that spread Babesia parasites are very small, many infected people don’t remember being bitten.

Babesiosis is usually spread by ticks, but people can also get infected via blood transfusion or congenitally (from mother to baby during pregnancy). For 2012, 7 cases of babesiosis in blood recipients were classified by the reporting state as transfusion associated; 1 reported case was attributed to congenital transmission.

Surveillance and Reporting 

CDC collects and disseminates U.S. babesiosis surveillance data. Surveillance is the ongoing collection and analysis of data and the timely dissemination of information so that action can be taken. State and territorial health departments notify CDC of cases of nationally notifiable conditions. Health care providers, laboratories, and the general public should contact their state health department for information about babesiosis reporting. For additional information visit babesiosis surveillance and case reporting.