Bizarre reaction sparks killer ‘flu’

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Moreton Bay Councillor Peter Flannery was nearly killed by a parasite. Picture: Richard W

Moreton Bay Councillor Peter Flannery was nearly killed by a parasite. Picture: Richard Walker Source: News Corp Australia

PETER Flannery had no idea the “flu” he was experiencing was just hours away from killing him.

The 49-year-old Moreton Bay councillor became ill late last month and doctors initially thought it was a typical winter bug.

Wife Annemarie had watched her husband’s health deteriorate, and after about a week of fever, aches and breathlessness, the situation became critical.

As his organs failed, Cr Flannery was rushed to hospital where he spent eight days in intensive care.

Doctors were able to stabilise his condition, despite not knowing the cause.

It was only after he had recovered they found it was caused by a tick.

Rather than fighting the spotted fever caused by tick bacteria, Cr Flannery suffered a bizarre reaction.

“It was a rare, individual auto-immune response,” Mrs Flannery said.

Hospital staff told her they were “very lucky to have him”.

Doctors were so surprised at Cr Flannery’s response to the tick bite and resulting spotted fever and shutdown, that they sent blood and bone marrow to the USA to develop a new test.

It will ensure diagnosis of tick-related disease is made easier for doctors to discover.

Doctors only found the illness was caused by a tick bite one week after his discharge.

While Cr Flannery recovered at home, Mrs Flannery said she had to tell him to slow down as he tried to keep up with work on the draft planning scheme.

“We had a workshop for the planning scheme two weeks ago and I video-linked for three hours,” he said.

His main concern through the ordeal was being there for his family, especially his newborn daughter.

“That was my goal, to be out for (the) birth,” he said.

Little Sophia Anne was born three weeks ago.