Skip to main content
Minnesota Department of Health logo
  • Main navigation

    • Home
    • Data, Statistics, and Legislation
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance
    • Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces
    • Individual and Family Health
    • About Us
    • News and Announcements
    • Translated Materials

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Data, Statistics, and Legislation
  • Diseases and Conditions
  • Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance
  • Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces
  • Individual and Family Health
  • About Us
  • News and Announcements
  • Translated Materials
MDH Logo

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Diseases and Conditions
  3. Infectious Disease Reporting
  4. Annual Summary of Disease Activity: Disease Control Newsletter
  5. Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2000
Topic Menu

Annual Summary of Disease Activity:
Disease Control Newsletter (DCN)

  • DCN Home
  • Annual Summary, 2020
  • Annual Summary, 2019
  • Annual Summary, 2018
  • Annual Summary, 2017
  • Annual Summary, 2016
  • Annual Summary, 2015
  • Annual Summary, 2014
  • Annual Summary, 2013
  • Annual Summary, 2012
  • Annual Summary, 2011
  • Annual Summary, 2010
  • Annual Summary, 2009
  • Annual Summary, 2008
  • Annual Summary, 2007
  • Annual Summary, 2006
  • Annual Summary, 2005
  • Annual Summary, 2004
  • Annual Summary, 2003
  • Annual Summary, 2002
  • Annual Summary, 2001
  • Annual Summary, 2000
  • Annual Summary, 1999
  • Annual Summary, 1998
  • Annual Summary, 1997

Related Topics

  • Infectious Disease Reporting

Annual Summary of Disease Activity:
Disease Control Newsletter (DCN)

  • DCN Home
  • Annual Summary, 2020
  • Annual Summary, 2019
  • Annual Summary, 2018
  • Annual Summary, 2017
  • Annual Summary, 2016
  • Annual Summary, 2015
  • Annual Summary, 2014
  • Annual Summary, 2013
  • Annual Summary, 2012
  • Annual Summary, 2011
  • Annual Summary, 2010
  • Annual Summary, 2009
  • Annual Summary, 2008
  • Annual Summary, 2007
  • Annual Summary, 2006
  • Annual Summary, 2005
  • Annual Summary, 2004
  • Annual Summary, 2003
  • Annual Summary, 2002
  • Annual Summary, 2001
  • Annual Summary, 2000
  • Annual Summary, 1999
  • Annual Summary, 1998
  • Annual Summary, 1997

Related Topics

  • Infectious Disease Reporting
Contact Info
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Ehrlichiosis, 2000

Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is an emerging tick-borne bacterial disease in Minnesota. Although the agent of HGE has not been named, it is thought to be similar or identical to two veterinary pathogens (i.e., Ehrlichia equi and Ehrlichia phagocytophila). HGE is transmitted to humans by Ixodes scapularis (deer tick or black-legged tick), the same tick that transmits Lyme disease. During 2000, 79 confirmed or probable cases of HGE were reported (1.6 per 100,000 population). This number represents a 119% increase in cases from the prior high of 36 cases reported in 1999. The national surveillance case definition for a confirmed case of HGE includes a compatible clinical illness with a four-fold increase in HGE antibody titer by IFA, a positive polymerase chain reaction, or intracytoplasmic morulae and an IFA antibody titer to HGE ≥1:64. Probable HGE cases have a compatible clinical illness and either an IFA serologic titer to HGE ≥1:64 or detection of intracytoplasmic morulae.

Forty-eight (61%) cases reported to MDH in 2000 were male. The median age of cases was 52 years (range, 2 to 83 years). The distribution of illness onsets was bimodal, with a peak in May and June (50% of cases) and a smaller peak in October and November (21% of cases). The latter peak likely was due to bites from infected adult I. scapularis ticks. Recent evidence suggests that I. scapularis may be able to transmit the agent of HGE to people within 24 hours after attaching to the person. Thus, while daily removal of attached ticks may prevent Lyme disease (where 1 to 2 days of tick attachment are necessary to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi), the practice may not prevent all cases of HGE. Additionally, co-infections of Lyme disease and HGE from the same tick bite are possible. During 2000 eight (10%) of 79 HGE cases also met the case definition for early-stage Lyme disease (with a physician-diagnosed erythema migrans). People are at most risk of HGE in the same east-central Minnesota counties where the risk of Lyme disease is greatest (see section on Lyme disease).

  • For up to date information see>> Anaplasmosis
  • Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2000
Tags
  • reportable
Last Updated: 10/20/2022

Get email updates


Minnesota Department of Health logo

Privacy Policy
Equal Opportunity
Translated Materials
Feedback Form
About MDH
Minnesota.gov
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linked In
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Department of health print search share facebook instagram linkedin twitter youtube