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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are collaborating with experts in public health, agriculture and academia to understand the threat posed by the spread of the Asian horned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in several US states since its discovery. in 2017, according to the morbidity of today. and weekly report on mortality.
"The impact of this finding on ticks on public health and agriculture is unknown," said Ben Beard, PhD, deputy director of the CDC's Vector-borne Diseases Division. "In other parts of the world, the Asian horned tick can transmit many types of common pathogens in the United States. We are concerned that this tick, which can cause massive infestations of animals, people and the environment, does not spread to the United States. "
New Jersey was the first state to report ticks on a sheep in August 2017. Since then, 45 counties or county counterparts in New Jersey and eight other states – Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania , Virginia and West Virginia – reported finding ticks on a variety of hosts, including people, wildlife, domestic animals and environmental samples.
Unlike most tick species, only one female can breed (1 to 2,000 eggs at a time) without mating. As a result, hundreds, if not thousands, of ticks can be on one animal, one person or in the environment. Breeders and pet owners should work with their veterinarians to maintain regular tick prevention and report any unknown tick species to their local agriculture department.
In other parts of the world where the long-horned tick is common, it poses a serious threat to livestock. In some areas of New Zealand and Australia, this tick can reduce by 25% the production of dairy cattle.
CDC and partners work to learn more, prevent the spread of disease
To better understand the potential impact of this tick discovery in the United States, the CDC collaborates with a network of federal, regional and local experts representing veterinary and agricultural sciences and public health to:
• Determine the geographical distribution of the Long-horned Asian tick in the United States.
• Determine the types of pathogens carried by longhorn beetle ticks in affected states that could infect people. The pathogens that are found in these ticks in other parts of the world, also endemic in the United States, include Borrelia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia and Babesia.
• Determine what new laboratory tests are needed to detect pathogens that may be introduced or spread by these ticks in the United States.
• Establish a clean colony (ticks without pathogens) for studies.
• Determine how often the Long-horned Asian tick bites humans and animals in the United States.
• Determine effective prevention and control strategies.
This network of collaborators, which will eventually function as part of a national strategy, will seek to limit the spread of tick-borne diseases before they affect humans and animals. This concerted and sustained national effort is needed to address the threat posed by Asian longhorned ticks, as well as the threat posed by the steady increase in the number of vector-borne diseases in the United States.
Anyone can take steps to prevent tick bites:
• Use EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) -approved insect repellents containing DEET, picaridine, IR3535, eucalyptus lemon oil (OLE), para-mentally-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. Always follow the product instructions.
• Treat clothing and equipment with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective after several washes. You can also buy clothes and equipment treated with permethrin.
• Check your body and clothing for ticks coming back from areas potentially infested with ticks, including your own garden. Use a hand mirror or full mirror to see all parts of your body. Place tick-infested clothes in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes to remove ticks on dry clothes after you arrive indoors.
• Shower shortly after being outside. It has been proven that taking a shower within two hours of getting inside reduces the risk of contracting Lyme disease and can effectively reduce the risk of other tick-borne diseases. The shower can help wash loose ticks and is a good time to do a tick check.
• Talk to your veterinarian about tick-borne diseases in your area and prevention products for your dog.
Source: CDC
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