People in the United States are already aware of the dangers of getting bitten by a tick that carries Lyme disease. Recently a new tick danger arrived on the scene. A native of Eastern Asia, the bush tick or longhorn tick has recently been found on livestock in New Jersey. Although attempts were made to eradicate the tick last fall, it appears to have survived the winter in New Jersey and is a threat to livestock and humans alike.
Diseases Carried by the East Asian Tick
The longhorned tick carries several diseases that affect animals and humans including SFTS – Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome found in China.
Symptoms of Symptoms of SFTS
- fever
- chills
- headache
- fatigue
- nausea
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- vomiting
- muscle pain
- inflammation of the lymph nodes
Left untreated it can even lead to death. The tick is also known to carry the disease linked to Japanese spotted fever. The bush tick has been found in Japan, China, Korea, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, and some Pacific Islands. It has never been found in the US, although it has been intercepted on animals in customs.
How Did the Longhorn Tick Make it to the US?
Officials do not know how the tick ended up in New Jersey, where they found hundreds of the species infesting sheep on a farm in New Jersey. The sheep had multiple life stages of the tick on them which means that they had been living on the farm for a while before being discovered. When investigators went to assess the situation, the infestation was so prolific that ticks were crawling up their pants. The sheep with the ticks had not travelled outside the US or even in the US and there were no other domestic animals on the property. Officials are concerned that deer and other wildlife will become hosts for the ticks and spread them throughout the area.
We Treat Lyme & Other Tick-borne Diseases
If you suspect you may have gotten bitten by a tick and have symptoms of Lyme disease, or have unexplained symptoms that just won’t go away, come see us at LifeWorks Wellness Center. We are experts in treating Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
Give us a call at (727) 466-6789 or submit an online inquiry to discuss your situation. We have been helping patients recover from these and other diseases for many years and we look forward to working with you.
Helpful Lyme Resources
- Lyme Disease Treatment - a page dedicated to treating lyme disease.
- Lyme Disease Testimonials - patient success stories overcoming lyme disease.
