Latest news with #ticks
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts issue warning over dangerous new insect species spreading across US: 'Managing them is not easy'
An invasive tick species from Asia is quickly multiplying across the eastern United States, and according to Patch, it's prompting concern from environmental officials. The Asian longhorned tick, first identified in the U.S. in 2017, has now been found in at least 17 states and is spreading particularly fast in southeastern Pennsylvania, where cases have surged by 150% over the last five years. Unlike most ticks, the Asian longhorned tick doesn't need a mate to reproduce. One female can lay up to 3,000 eggs, resulting in infestations so dense that wildlife officials have found hundreds of ticks on a single animal. "Managing them is not easy because of how numerous they are and how easily they can come back," Risa Pesapane, a preventive medicine professor at Ohio State University, said, per Patch. Luckily, there's no strong evidence linking these ticks to Lyme disease. However, their ability to transmit other illnesses, including a cattle disease called Theileria orientalis that causes severe anemia and fever, poses an urgent threat to food supply chains and native animal populations. Their rapid spread also puts pressure on local ecosystems. Asian longhorned ticks feed on a wide range of animals, from deer and raccoons to dogs, cats, cattle, and even squirrels and skunks. With their capacity for rapid growth and adaptability to mild, humid conditions, experts warn that they could eventually populate much of the eastern U.S. and parts of the West Coast. Invasions like this destroy biodiversity by outcompeting native tick species and disrupting predator-prey relationships that keep nature in balance. In a world already struggling with rising temperatures and shrinking habitats, the introduction of yet another aggressive species threatens to worsen existing issues. According to Patch, experts say prevention and early action are key. Pesticides can work, but only when applied directly. Even then, ticks often bounce back. The best approach is to keep pastures mowed, regularly check pets and livestock, and report sightings to local health officials. If you find a tick on you, store it in rubbing alcohol and contact your doctor or county health office. For pets and livestock, get in touch with your vet immediately. Perhaps most importantly, support efforts to protect native ecosystems. The more resilient our local wildlife and natural habitats are, the harder it is for invasive species to take hold. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CTV News
16 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Quebec urges caution regarding tick, mosquito bites
From Jan. 1 to Oct. 26, 2024, 681 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Quebec. As summer begins, Quebec's Ministry of Health and Social Services is urging caution regarding tick and mosquito bites, which can transmit several diseases and viruses. Tick and mosquito populations are on the rise in several regions due to climate change, and the milder climate allows them to survive and thrive more easily. Quebec is reminding residents that ticks and mosquitoes can transmit Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and California Serogroup viruses, among others. The ministry notes that there are simple precautions people can take to protect themselves, such as using a DEET or icaridin-based mosquito repellent and wearing light-coloured, lightweight clothing. To protect yourself more specifically from ticks, prioritize walking on trails and avoid tall grass. If a tick attaches itself to your skin, remove it carefully, ideally within 24 hours. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Quebec. As is the case elsewhere in the country, the numbers have increased significantly in recent years. In 2023, 2022, and 2021, there were 652, 586, and 709 cases, respectively. In comparison, there were 125 cases in 2014, 160 in 2015, and 177 in 2016. Lyme disease is transmitted by a tick bite carrying bacteria. It can also affect animals. In humans, the most common symptom of the disease is a red rash on the skin. Many people experience fatigue, fever, and body aches, but if the disease is not detected and treated quickly, the bacteria can spread through the bloodstream and cause other, more dire symptoms. If you suspect you may have been infected, Quebec recommends calling Info-Santé at 811. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 20, 2025.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
‘Up tick' in cases: Rising threat of Lyme disease in central Ontario
With summer in full swing many are outside enjoying the weather around Simcoe-Muskoka, and while the weather is nice, more residents are reporting finding ticks on them after a day outside. Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health and CEO of Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), said tick cases continue to increase. 'In 2023, they had 1,800 cases of Lyme disease just over that figure. And that's gone up about six-fold over a decade. So that shows you the trajectory, the upward swing of this and here in Simcoe Muskoka, we had 47 cases in 2024,' Gardner said. Lyme Disease and Symptoms A tick can be as small as a poppy seed and grow depending on how long the bug is latched onto someone's skin. A tick can also carry diseases like Lyme disease. 'Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by a tick. Blackleg tick, to be precise, and has been becoming more and more common in southern Ontario, specifically, here in Simcoe Muskoka, over the last two to three decades,' Gardner noted. If a tick is latched onto a person's skin it could take weeks for symptoms to develop, including a rash where the tick was. 'You can also develop broader symptoms, such as a fever, muscle aches and pains, joint inflammation, perhaps a stiff neck,' explained Gardner. 'If it remains longer, 30 days or more, you can end up with paralysis of the lower portion of your face, something they call a Bell's palsy that can be on one side or both sides, It can have inflammation of the heart, can develop something called a heart block with a slowing of the heart, arthritis and some neurological symptoms as well, inflammation of the brain, so it's quite serious as it progresses on.' The medical officer of health advised seeking medical attention if a tick has been latched longer than 24 hours. Prevention There are ways to help reduce the risk of a tick latching onto a person, including staying out of heavily weeded or long grass and covering yourself if you are outdoors in similar areas. Checking yourself and children is also heavily recommended. 'Typically, you take a device, tweezers and basically you're clamping at from the mouth parts that are right in - going into the skin and carefully with firm pressure, pulling it out so that you get it out entirely,' said Gardner. Ticks and Pets While tick cases are trending upwards in Simcoe-Muskoka, they are also becoming more common in pets. Dr. Virginia Cornell, veterinarian at Aldergrove Animal Clinic in Barrie, said the increase in ticks on dogs is increasing. 'The per cent of tick-transmitted disease that we're seeing this year has increased, probably about 400 per cent over what we saw in previous years.' She added that ticks are becoming larger in size and with climate becoming warmer there is no die-off. Unlike humans who can show symptoms over a few weeks, it's a different scenario for dogs. Symptoms in Pets 'If you don't find the tick right away on your dog, you probably aren't going to notice the symptoms yourself until your pet starts to show signs,' said Cornell. 'Vague signs of illness, and you end up here seeking medical attention as the symptoms could vary anywhere from your pet, just not feeling well. We might notice a fever. We might notice joint swelling or lameness.' During walks, dogs should avoid heavy brush and long grass. There are also vaccines to help your pets which Cornell said can be treated year-round. Tick Removal 'The most common place that you're going to find ticks are around the face, neck, feet area,' said Dr. Cornell. 'So, check well and if you find a tick, remove it right away. And then if you know that your pet has had a tick bite, a tick exposure about six to eight weeks later, bring your pet in for blood testing so we can see if your pet was exposed to any of the diseases that ticks can transmit.' When removing the tick, its important to remove the tick completely without killing it. 'Ticks are known to regurgitate as they die and the pathogens that they carry are usually contained in their saliva and their stomach contents, so you don't want to kill the tick during the removal process,' said Cornell. Once the tick is removed safely both Gardner and Cornell emphasized the importance of taking a picture of the tick and submit it online so it can be categorized by species and location where it was found.
CBC
4 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Disease-carrying ticks are showing up earlier in B.C., and in greater numbers
Ticks are showing up earlier and in greater numbers in B.C., spreading pathogens such as the one that causes Lyme disease. Cases of that have gone up nationwide by more than 5,000 since 2009. CBC medical columnist Melissa Lem explains what you need to know.
WebMD
4 days ago
- Health
- WebMD
Why This Tick Season Is Worse – and How to Protect Yourself
June 16, 2025 – Ready to hit the great outdoors this season? Just make sure you've taken steps to protect yourself from ticks and tickborne illness, which experts say is on the rise. Recent testing in upstate New York found that more than a third of blacklegged ticks – or deer ticks – carry Lyme disease, while 18% harbor anaplasmosis and 11% host babesiosis. Although tick species and diseases vary by region – the American dog tick is associated with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, while the Lone Star tick is linked to ehrlichiosis and Heartland virus – the bottom line is the same nationwide: As ticks spread, the risk of encountering these diseases increases. Why Are Tickborne Illnesses Increasing? With temperatures warming as our climate changes, ticks are spreading to regions that were once too cold. Plus, much of the country has become a friendlier place for whitetail deer – one of the most common hosts for deer ticks – because the animals can easily coexist with humans in urban and suburban areas, said Jean Tsao, PhD, a disease ecology professor at Michigan State University. While deer don't infect ticks with disease (small rodents do), they do play a role in helping ticks multiply and spread. But mostly, we humans have ourselves to blame. "The main driver of the increase is humans either living or going to recreate in natural areas where ticks live," said Tsao. As more people – and their pets – migrate to once largely untouched natural landscapes, they're more likely to have contact with ticks. Following these steps can help keep you safe. Know Your Risk Find out whether the ticks in your area – and areas you plan to visit – are likely to carry disease. In Virginia and North Carolina, Lyme disease has become more common – while South Carolina has Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Michigan has babesiosis. In some parts of the country, like the Northeast and Upper Midwest, a single tick bite can cause multiple infections. Your best bet is to check the CDC's tickborne disease surveillance. If you're visiting a hotspot, take extra precautions, said Saravanan Thangamani, PhD, a tick expert and director of the SUNY Center for Environmental Health and Medicine in Syracuse, New York. Spring and early summer are crucial times for tickborne illness because that's when adult ticks are most active, said Eric Benson, PhD, an entomologist at Clemson University. Use Repellent – Correctly Tick repellents are your first line of defense. The most effective contain active ingredients such as 20%-30% DEET, 20% picaridin, or 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) – the synthetic version, not the "pure" essential oil, which is not EPA-registered. (OLE is not recommended for children under 3.) Reapply every eight to 12 hours, or every six hours for OLE. But don't stop at your skin – spray your clothes and camping gear too. Use the insecticide permethrin, which kills ticks on contact. Just be sure to spray clothes outside and not while you're wearing them. Put them on a hanger and spray per the product's directions. The treatment should last about six washings. Do 3 Things as Soon as You Get Home First: "Take off your clothes and put them in the dryer for 10 minutes at high heat," said Thangamani. That will kill any ticks hiding in your clothes. Then do a tick check. Don't forget under your arms, behind your ears, the back of your knees, and in and around your hair line. Finally, get in the shower – ticks often move around on the skin before biting, and many will simply fall off in the shower. If you have pets, check them, too, to ensure they're not carrying ticks into your home. Find One? Remove It Safely Ticks transmit pathogens while feeding on blood – but that takes between 36 and 48 hours, said Nicole Baumgarth, PhD, a tickborne illness expert at Johns Hopkins University. If you find a tick early, chances are it hasn't had time to infect you yet. And it will be easier to remove, Baumgarth said. Despite all the clever tips and gadgets for removing ticks, fine-tipped tweezers – the pointy kind – are still the most reliable tool for the job. Grab as deep and straight as you can. Avoid twisting, which can cause the body to break, said Baumgarth. If the body breaks, don't panic – the remaining pieces may cause redness and irritation, but probably not illness. Use an alcohol wipe to clean the area and then remove the pieces left behind. If you can't remove them, that's OK – leave them and let your skin heal. Keep the Tick! Put the tick into a zip-top bag and send it to a lab for testing to see if it's a species that carries disease. The Upstate Tick Testing Laboratory is one example, but labs across the country test ticks. Visit Ticknology for help finding a lab in your area. This way, if you end up with symptoms, you can tell your doctor the species of tick that bit you, Thangamani said. Tests for infections like Lyme disease look for antibodies that can take two weeks to show up, so knowing the type of tick that bit you can help guide early care. Watch for Symptoms Lyme disease, caused by borrelia bacteria, is by far the most common tickborne disease in the U.S. and is found in most states. Symptoms can vary because everyone responds to the bacteria differently, but it usually starts with a rash – commonly bull's-eye-shaped, but not always – that appears within three to 30 days. The rash often comes with flu -like symptoms like a fever, headache, extreme fatigue, joint stiffness, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Flu-like symptoms could also indicate other tickborne illnesses like anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Call your doctor if you notice symptoms – early treatment is key to a full recovery. Most of these illnesses respond to common antibiotics including doxycycline, amoxicillin, and cefuroxime. A full course of oral antibiotics is standard treatment for Lyme disease and, in more severe cases, intravenous (IV) antibiotics may be required.
