As of this spring, an invasive tick types, the Asian longhorned tick, has spread to Illinois. USDA says the types is now understood in the following U.S. states and districts:
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
. The Asian longhorned tick may have been present in the U.S. as early as 2010, despite the fact that researchers first determined it in 2017. Since then, it’s been infecting more locations in the eastern half of the nation.
The CDC states this invasive tick species appears to be less attracted to people than some other native ticks, like the blacklegged tick. One research study pointed out by the CDC recommends Asian longhorned ticks are “not likely to contribute to the spread of Lyme disease bacteria in the United States,” which is good news. Nevertheless, another research study discovered that the types can bring and spread out other illness, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
How to Be Tick Safe This Summer
The CDC says ticks choose “wooded and brushy areas with high turf and leaf litter.” Unfortunately, tick area can likewise consist of nearly anywhere outdoors, so it’s finest to be proactive, even if you’re not in a wooded location.
The best methods to prevent tick bites include:
- Using protective clothes, including long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to lessen exposed skin.
- Using insect repellent, particularly those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.
- Examining your body, clothing, and equipment for ticks after being outdoors, and being thorough about it. (Make certain to examine challenging areas on your body, like the hairline, underarms, groin, and behind the knees.)
- Treating clothes, equipment, and animals with tick-prevention products before entering tick area. For clothes and equipment, you can consider pre-treating with permethrin, but this substance is “a weak carcinogen” and must be utilized with caution.
- Cleaning your body after outdoor activities. The CDC’s suggestions is to shower within two hours of an outside activity to wash off any ticks that have ridden on your body however haven’t bitten you yet.
If You Discover a Tick
If you find a tick on your body, whether it’s attached or not, get it off as quickly as possible– however ideally not by swiping it off and leaving it to bite another person … and certainly not by crushing it, since that can infect you too. You can kill or contain a live tick by putting it in rubbing alcohol, putting it in a sealed bag, wrapping it in tape, or flushing it down a toilet.
If you discover a tick that’s attached to your skin, use a set of tweezers or a tick-removal device to understand the tick and pull it off (if you’re using a tick-removal gadget, follow the manufacturer’s instructions). If you’re utilizing tweezers, take care not to twist as you pull, since the mouth parts of the tick might break off and stay connected to your skin.
After removing the tick, the CDC states your next step should be cleaning up the area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
An intrusive tick types has actually infected a new state. Find out more about the species, plus how to be tick safe this summer.