Anaplasmosis is still rare in Michigan but the number of cases reported yearly in the state is on the rise.

There were 12 documented cases of anaplasmosis in Michigan reported to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in 2019.

Michigan has seen an increase over the last six years, with only four cases reported in 2014. .

Annually, there are 4,000 to 6,000 cases of anaplasmosis reported and it is most common in the Northeast and upper Midwest because of the presence of blacklegged ticks, Armstrong said. .

The blacklegged ticks, often called deer ticks in Michigan, can transfer Lyme disease and many other pathogens

The American dog tick and the blacklegged tick are the two most common in Michigan, said MDHHS epidemiologist Kim Signs

Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist for the National Pest Management Association, says it's easier said than done to prevent ticks bites, but there are measures people can take to stay safe

John Howe, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says that blacklegged ticks can transmit anaplasmosis to dogs and less commonly to cats. 

Howe says pets with anaplasmosis may experience a lack of appetite, joint pain, fever, lethargy, or lameness. 

"If you have a pet and they go outside, you should talk with your veterinarian about what products are available to help prevent ticks and fleas on your pets in the summer," said Signs. 

Howe says to remove ticks from pets using tweezers while avoiding twisting or crushing the tick