Latest news with #CenterforVectorBiologyandZoonoticDiseases
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New London County tick populations continue to grow
Ticks that can spread diseases that afflict people, including Lyme disease, continue to proliferate in Connecticut, the latest findings from a multiyear tick surveillance program show. On Monday, the New Haven-based Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station's Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases released results of the program's analysis of more than 4,000 ticks collected during the spring, summer and fall of 2024 in 40 locations across the state's eight counties. The ticks were tested for organisms that cause five human diseases, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Lyme disease, hard tick relapsing fever and Powassan virus. The vast majority of the ticks collected were blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease, followed by longhorned ticks, American dog ticks and lone star ticks. Two of the species — longhorned ticks and lone star ticks — were identified in Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven and New London counties. When the surveillance program was launched in 2019, the two species were only detected in Fairfield and New London counties. New London County reported the highest average adult blacklegged tick density of 83 ticks per acre as well as the highest density of blacklegged tick nymphs of 25 ticks per acre. Statewide, 54% of adult female blacklegged ticks and 23% of nymphs were found to be infected with Lyme disease. In New London County, the prevalence of infection was 60% of adults and 25% of nymphs. New London County's sampling sites are located at Bluff Point State Park in Groton; Hopeville Pond State Park in Jewett City; Franklin Swamp in North Franklin; Lord Cove, a tidal marsh in Lyme; and on Connecticut College property in Quaker Hill. 'The spread of lone star and longhorned ticks in Connecticut, along with increasing blacklegged tick populations, highlights the importance of continued tick surveillance,' said Megan Linske, a vector ecologist specializing in tick-host-habitat dynamics at CAES. 'Residents should take routine precautions and check for ticks after being outdoors.' To minimize exposure to tick bites and reduce the risk of tickborne diseases, CAES recommends people: • Stay on established trails and avoid bushy or wooded areas. • Conduct routine tick checks after outdoor activities. • Wear long sleeves, pants, and light-colored, tightly woven clothing. • Tuck pant legs into socks when hiking in tick habitats. • Wear clothing treated with permethrin, a medication and insecticide, to repel and kill ticks.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New London County tick populations continue to grow
Ticks that can spread diseases that afflict people, including Lyme disease, continue to proliferate in Connecticut, the latest findings from a multiyear tick surveillance program show. On Monday, the New Haven-based Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station's Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases released results of the program's analysis of more than 4,000 ticks collected during the spring, summer and fall of 2024 in 40 locations across the state's eight counties. The ticks were tested for organisms that cause five human diseases, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Lyme disease, hard tick relapsing fever and Powassan virus. The vast majority of the ticks collected were blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease, followed by longhorned ticks, American dog ticks and lone star ticks. Two of the species — longhorned ticks and lone star ticks — were identified in Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven and New London counties. When the surveillance program was launched in 2019, the two species were only detected in Fairfield and New London counties. New London County reported the highest average adult blacklegged tick density of 83 ticks per acre as well as the highest density of blacklegged tick nymphs of 25 ticks per acre. Statewide, 54% of adult female blacklegged ticks and 23% of nymphs were found to be infected with Lyme disease. In New London County, the prevalence of infection was 60% of adults and 25% of nymphs. New London County's sampling sites are located at Bluff Point State Park in Groton; Hopeville Pond State Park in Jewett City; Franklin Swamp in North Franklin; Lord Cove, a tidal marsh in Lyme; and on Connecticut College property in Quaker Hill. 'The spread of lone star and longhorned ticks in Connecticut, along with increasing blacklegged tick populations, highlights the importance of continued tick surveillance,' said Megan Linske, a vector ecologist specializing in tick-host-habitat dynamics at CAES. 'Residents should take routine precautions and check for ticks after being outdoors.' To minimize exposure to tick bites and reduce the risk of tickborne diseases, CAES recommends people: • Stay on established trails and avoid bushy or wooded areas. • Conduct routine tick checks after outdoor activities. • Wear long sleeves, pants, and light-colored, tightly woven clothing. • Tuck pant legs into socks when hiking in tick habitats. • Wear clothing treated with permethrin, a medication and insecticide, to repel and kill ticks.
