Latest news with #ticktesting
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Watch out for this new invasive tick. It could saddle you with a little-known, debilitating infection
An invasive tick species is creeping its way into more parts of the country, as warming temperatures help it spread a little-known infection that can leave people with debilitating symptoms, and in rare cases, dead. In May, scientists at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven discovered for the first time that the longhorned tick had become a carrier for the bacteria that causes the Ehrlichiosis infection. With cases already on the rise, that was a big cause of concern. 'I am afraid to say that it is a storm brewing,' said Goudarz Molaei, the director of the lab's tick-testing program. 'Climate change eventually will almost eliminate winter in our region. And this tick, like other tick species, will be active year round.' Warming temperatures, which have already translated into shorter winters, allow the longhorned tick and other tick species to wake up early from hibernation, increasing the risk of getting bitten. The longhorned tick, which is native to East Asia, first invaded places like Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. It has now been detected in at least 21 states in the U.S. with Michigan reporting its first sighting at the end of June. Researchers aren't sure how the tick made it to the U.S., but it's likely it arrived on the backs of imported livestock or other animals. In 2017, scientists identified the country's first longhorned tick in New Jersey, though it's likely the species has been in the U.S. since at least 2010. 'The fact it was here for so long without us actually knowing about it was really a wakeup call,' said Dana Price, an associate research professor in the department of entomology at Rutgers University. Modeling indicates areas from southern Canada throughout the continental U.S. are environmentally suitable to the longhorned tick. That means the threat is two-fold: The longhorned's geographic range is expanding and so is the time that they're active and able to transmit disease, scientists said. Ehrlichiosis is becoming so prevalent that there is a region of the country unofficially named after it: The 'Ehrlichiosis Belt' stretches from as far north as Connecticut and New York to as far west as Arkansas. The lone star and blacklegged ticks have long carried Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the bacteria that causes Ehrlichiosis. The infection sends about 60% of patients to the hospital and claims the lives of about 1 in 100 patients, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Infected individuals will typically experience fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches and fatigue one to two weeks after being bitten. But if people aren't treated quickly, the infection can sometimes lead to brain and nervous system damage, respiratory failure, uncontrolled bleeding and organ failure. The number of Ehrlichiosis cases has risen steadily since 2000 when the CDC reported 200 cases of Ehrlichiosis compared with 2,093 in 2019. Studies suggest that the number of annual Ehrlichiosis cases are grossly underreported with one study from Rutgers University researchers saying 99% of cases go undetected. The CDC reported earlier this month that there have been more emergency room visits in July for tick bites than the past eight Julys. In early July, officials closed Pleasure Beach, a popular swim spot in Bridgeport, Connecticut, for the summer after discovering an infestation of several tick species including the longhorned tick. Manisha Juthani, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, said that as climate change makes 'tick season' less predictable, Connecticut residents should take precautions like wearing long pants, tucking them into their socks and conducting tick checks on family members and pets after being outdoors for extended periods of time. 'The reality is that with the changes we're seeing in climate, we have to be more prepared and more aware of the infections and the pathogens that we can be exposed to by being outside and potentially being aware of the things that can really cause the most harm to people,' Juthani said. While longhorned ticks often prefer the blood of livestock to humans, entomologists say their unique biology makes them a formidable public health hazard. They can establish populations of thousands from a single female because, like bees, they have the ability to reproduce without a mate. They can also ingest and become carriers for pathogens typically carried by other tick species if they happen to feed on the same host. The process, known as co-feeding transmission, is common among most tick species. Molaei said his recent discovery of the Ehrlichiosis-causing bacteria in the longhorned tick raises concerns about what other pathogens the tick may be able to contract and transmit to humans. The longhorned tick and the lone star tick, one of the original carriers of ehrlichia, both feed on similar hosts, like white-tailed deer. 'We live in this part of the world with several important tick species, and we have to learn how to live with this many ticks,' Molaei said. 'And the key is to protect ourselves.' The World Health Organization reports that more than 17% of infectious diseases globally are transmitted through vectors, intermediary animals that ferry viruses, bacteria and other pathogens from one animal to the next. Tick-borne diseases in the U.S. accounted for 77% of vector-borne disease reports from 2004 to 2016, with cases more than doubling in the last 13 years, according to data collected by the CDC. Jennifer Platt was bitten by a tick during that time. She contracted Ehrlichiosis from a tick bite in North Carolina in the summer of 2011. When she couldn't pick up and carry her 2-year-old son, her friend, who is a nurse, suggested she go to the hospital immediately. The friend suspected Platt might have a tick-borne infection. Platt was sick and on antibiotics for months after her diagnosis. Her shoulder locked due to the infection — a rare but contractable chronic symptom of tick-borne disease — leading to months of physical therapy and putting her out of work for three months. It took her more than a year to fully recover from the lasting impacts of the infection. 'The best way I'd describe it,' she said, 'is I felt like death.' A few years after she started feeling better, she was diagnosed with Lyme and Babesiosis diseases — which she attributes to the same tick bite. Platt, who co-founded the advocacy nonprofit Tick-Borne Conditions United, said she hopes the recent discovery of the Ehrlichia bacteria in the longhorned tick will help raise awareness among doctors and the general public about the threat of tick-borne diseases, especially little-known ones like Ehrlichiosis. 'My mission in life is to support people in being who they are,' Platt said. 'And if you're sick from a tick-borne disease, you can't be who you are.' This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Tick Bites Are No Joke. Here's How to Prevent Them and Protect Yourself.
A hotly debated topic among experts is whether you should get the tick tested by a lab to see which diseases it carries. Some experts, including those at the CDC, do not recommend tick testing. A highly sensitive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test is performed on the tick. If the PCR test detects a small amount of bacteria sufficient to trigger a positive result, it doesn't mean the tick was feeding long or had enough bacteria to infect you. Such a result could cause undue worry. 'There is a pretty high chance of a false positive and no real oversight in the labs,' Kaitlin McDonald, a PhD student in the Ecology, Evolution, Environment, and Society program in the Department of Biological Sciences at Dartmouth College, said in an email interview. Only about a quarter of nymphal-stage ticks (the ones most likely to transmit Lyme disease) are infected, and they need to feed for 48 hours or longer to transmit the infection. Most people who recognize a tick bite remove it in less than 48 hours. But other experts say that identifying and testing ticks is beneficial. The TickSpotters program, led by Mather, can help determine the type of tick and give you a risk assessment, if you send in a clear picture. 'If the tick is a risky tick, attached long enough to transmit any germ they might be carrying, then we suggest that people might want to have the tick tested ... and to have more information to pass along to their primary care or veterinary care provider,' Mather said. Knowing which diseases your tick was carrying will help you zero in on medical care before symptoms start. Up to 5% of nymphal ticks carry a co-infection, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and some of the symptoms are similar. Anaplasmosis, for example, is an emerging and dangerous infection spread by black-legged and western black-legged ticks, and it has symptoms similar to those of Lyme disease. Doxycycline is effective against many tick-borne illnesses, but you may need to go on a different antibiotic if you have the parasite babesia or the rare but increasing Powassan virus. If you do opt to get a tick tested, Mather recommends several companies that perform the service for less than $100, including Ticknology, TickCheck, TickReport, and Eco Laboratory (the latter two are 'prevention partners' with Mather's free TickSpotters program). Your state's health department may also have a tick-testing lab. For instance, Connecticut, where Lyme disease was first identified, has a free program for its residents. Sample test results from the Colorado-based tick-testing company Ticknology. As the co-authors of this story, we have both experienced the exhaustion of Lyme disease, plus the no-picnic treatment of the three- to four-week doxycycline antibiotic cycle (which comes with a host of potential side effects). We think that testing can be good for peace of mind and can promote vigilance in watching for symptoms and getting early treatment. A few years ago, Annemarie's husband was bitten by a tick shortly after she was diagnosed with Lyme. When the tick came back from the lab negative for the tested diseases, no further action was necessary. There was no worrying or watching for symptoms to appear. What a huge relief! If you experience symptoms such as fever, aches and pains, or a rash, see your doctor, and ask for full-panel bloodwork (not just for Lyme disease) to help identify co-infections. We know this discussion ranks among the worst of the creepy-crawly topics, but common tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme disease, are treatable if they're caught early. Get outside. Enjoy your summer. This article was edited by Megan Beauchamp and Harry Sawyers. Permethrin is like the wall around the castle: It's always there offering protection and doesn't need much maintenance. Our repellent recommendations are EPA approved, backed by experts, and tested by us. Here's the best gear for killing flies and other common household pests. Treating your pets for pests isn't cheap or convenient, but it's necessary.
