Pike County’s Graham identifies rare tick-borne illness

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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE

A recent graduate of Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences is receiving praise from hospital colleagues after identifying a rare and potentially life-threatening illness just three weeks into her job.

Katie Graham, a Pike County native and a member of the Blessing-Rieman Class of 2025 and a certified Medical Laboratory Technician, was performing routine testing in the Blessing Health lab when she noticed something unusual in a patient’s white blood cells. Graham’s analysis led to the identification of Ehrlichia, a bacterium transmitted through tick bites that causes the illness Ehrlichiosis.

“Not only is this bacterial infection infrequent in our area, it is quite uncommon for it to be initially diagnosed from analysis of a peripheral blood smear,” Dr. Tracy Murphy, Blessing’s Laboratory Medical Director and Pathologist, said in a release. “Careful analysis by Katie led to speedy treatment with the correct antibiotics for this infection.”

Blessing Health confirmed the discovery through reference testing and notified the patient’s provider promptly. Graham said she was surprised to encounter such a condition so early in her career.

“Ehrlichia is something I thought I would only see in books for school or in picture examples, but I saw it in my third week of being a lab tech,” Graham said in a release provided by Blessing Health. “I realize every day how important lab work is and the difference our findings can make for the outcome of patient care.”

Graham credited her instructors and clinical experience at Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences for preparing her to succeed in the lab setting.

“Because of the way we did clinicals, I felt prepared for the job and work environment I was entering,” Graham said. “I had instructors and mentors at the school and at the hospital who encouraged me to be the best I can be.”

Graham’s discovery comes as Illinois public health officials are urging residents to take precautions against tick-borne diseases. In observance of National Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) launched an educational campaign to raise awareness about illnesses such as Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme disease.

“Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States, affecting more than 500,000 people nationally each year,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “As the summer approaches, I encourage our residents to learn to ‘Fight the Bite’ and protect yourself and your loved ones from tick-borne illnesses.”

IDPH recommends a variety of protective measures, including conducting full-body tick checks after outdoor activity, wearing light-colored clothing, using insect repellent, and promptly removing any ticks found. Public health materials such as Pocket Cards and activity sheets for school-age children are available to help families understand and manage tick risks.

Officials also advise residents to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, or rash after time spent in wooded or grassy areas. Removing ticks within 24 hours significantly reduces the risk of infection.

For more information on the Blessing-Rieman Medical Laboratory Technology program, visit brcn.edu. For state resources on tick safety and disease surveillance, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website.