18/09/2026
WARNING to my dog training and bird hunting friends and followers.
If you have sudden onset of flu like symptoms don’t assume it’s the flu just because it’s in or near “flu season”.
I was in urgent care two days ago with chills, body aches and fever. Tests for flu A/B, Covid, RSV all negative. I didn’t have the normal respiratory symptoms either.
Bloodwork indicated my WBC and in particular ANC was wiped out. Profoundly low. My care provider recognized this as consistent with severe anaplasmosis and started antibiotics immediately.
A day later the test result for anaplasmosis came back positive. (Good news- we had a diagnosis). I wasn’t aware of any recent tick bites.
Fortunately, anaplasmosis is highly treatable with doxycycline. I was also fortunate the Dr recognized the symptoms as consistent with anaplasmosis and started treatment even before lab tests confirmed it. With severe infection things can go very bad, very quickly.
If you are around ticks and get a fever, body aches, chills. Get tested.