Possibilities for Relapsing Fever Reemergence

Relapsing fever Borrelia infections have attracted little
attention in recent years; however, where endemic, these
infections still result in considerable illness and death.
Despite the marked antimicrobial drug susceptibility of
these organisms, therapy is often delayed through lack of
clinical suspicion. With increasing travel, infections may be
imported, through exotic relapsing fever infection or
through resurgence of infected disease vectors. Although
louseborne relapsing fever is now geographically limited, it
was once of global importance. The possibility for reemergence
was recently highlighted by the probable reemergence
of louseborne relapsing fever in homeless persons
from France. Host limitations enforced through louseborne
transmission are less applicable for the tickborne forms of
relapsing fever. Although the latter have reduced potential
for epidemic spread, they have the ability to infect diverse
hosts, thus establishing reservoirs of infection and presenting
greater challenges for their control.

Citation:
Cutler, S.J. (2006) ‘Possibilities for Relapsing Fever Reemergence’ Emerging Infectious Diseases 12 (3) 369-374..