What is Anaplasmosis?

2. History of Anaplasmosis in Humans

The first case of anaplasmosis in a human occurred in 1990. A patient in Wisconsin developed a feverish disease after a tick bite. Just two weeks later, the patient died. In 1994, experts identified human granulocytic anaplasmosis after years of research. The disease is almost indistinguishable from other tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease or human monocytic ehrlichiosis. From 1994 to 2010, the rate of infection for human granulocytic anaplasmosis has increased significantly. Prior to 2000, there were fewer than 300 cases each year. From 2009 to 2010, there was a 52 percent increase in cases.