A serious health threat is spreading in Pennsylvania, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and changing weather patterns may be a contributing factor.
What is going on?
Cases of anaplasmosis increased more than 50% in Allegheny County in 2025. US states, including Wisconsin and California, have also seen jumps in the tick-borne bacterial infection.
Anaplasmosis is regularly transmitted along with Lyme disease through tick bites. Initial symptoms of infection include fever, fatigue, and nausea. When left untreated, it can have long-term consequences.
Why is anaplasmosis concerning?
“I really can’t commit much to doing what I used to,” Janine Hauck told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in late December. Hauck contracted anaplasmosis in 2019 and has since suffered from chronic fatigue, which impacts her ability to walk, bike, swim, and engage in the outdoor activities she loves. “It changed my life.”
A major contributor to the increase in anaplasmosis infections is the expanded population and habitat of disease-carrying ticks. Warmer and wetter weather patterns, partly exacerbated by atmospheric pollution, have provided prime conditions for ticks to reproduce.
This phenomenon has exacerbated the spread of other vector-borne diseases, including dengue virus and West Nile virus.
What is being done about anaplasmosis?
Anaplasmosis can be treated with antibiotics if caught early. For this reason, officials recommend regularly checking for tick bites after spending time outdoors. Seeking medical attention soon after a tick bite can help support recovery.
Preventing tick bites in the first place is possible by wearing long enough clothing and using effective repellents. Hauck told the Post-Gazette that the precautions are worth the hassle.
“People don’t understand how much a tick bite can affect your life,” she told the paper. “I’ve probably spent over $60,000 trying to get better. I’m lucky that I have [the money]but not everyone does that.”
In the big picture, attacking the root of the problem may also require reducing emissions as much as possible to mitigate increasingly hot and wetter weather and to shrink tick habitats and activity.
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