Marylanders Beware of the Long-horned Tick

The new species of tick that has invaded the Eastern United States is raising a lot of questions as to whether it could also be a transmitter of Lyme disease. The long-horned tick has spread rapidly across the U.S, causing growing concern for our health. Here’s an article with further information on the preventative measures you can take to deal with ticks and in particular, this unfamiliar species.

DEP outlines preventative measures for dealing with longhorned ticks

In late 2017, the Asian longhorned tick was found on a sheep in Hunterdon County. As of June 2018, the longhorned tick has been found in five New Jersey counties (Hunterdon, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, and Bergen)and in several other states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Arkansas. The tick is known to occur in humans and a wide range of animals, being documented in deer, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, dogs, raccoons, and opossums in North America.

Of course, it’s not just us humans that we need to keep safe from these pests, our pets and livestock are at risk too. Marylanders in particular have been warned to look out for this particular species.

You can’t be too careful when it comes to ticks, so please keep your eye out and report any possible infestations. Perform a thorough tick check after being outside, and be aware of the symptoms of tick borne diseases, so that should you be concerned, you can seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Preventing tick bites as Lyme disease on the rise

A new report shows that Lyme disease is on the rise in all 50 states, and even in areas where it has not typically been in the past. “If you are out hiking, camping or even just working in your yard, the ticks are there all the time,” said Dr. Alan Taege, and infectious disease doctor with the Cleveland Clinic. “So, you should wear insect repellent for them, and of course, the best ones contain DEET. In addition, you can spray your clothing and some of your camping gear with another chemical compound called permethrin.”

It may be some time before it can be established whether the long-horned tick could be an addition to the Lyme disease spreading tick type, so over compensate and presume every tick is a threat to your health!