Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Vector Borne Disease Ticks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Official warns of invasive longhorned tick; link to rising ehrlichiosis cases uncertain
Summary
A public health official described the longhorned tick as an invasive species in Connecticut that can reproduce without a male and may carry Ehrlichia chaffeensis; officials said the state has seen about 28 ehrlichiosis cases in the last five years but said any connection to the tick remains under investigation.
Public health official described the longhorned tick as an invasive species newly detected in Connecticut and warned that it may pose a risk for tick-borne infections. "So that is an invasive tick species here in Connecticut. It's really a tick that we have not normally had. It is one that is really from Asia. It has come here," the official said.
The official noted a biological feature of the species: it can reproduce without male fertilization. "One of the things that is concerning about it a bit is that it can replicate on its own. Meaning, it doesn't need a male and a female," the official said.
The official said the tick can carry Ehrlichia chaffeensis and that Connecticut has recorded about 28 cases of ehrlichiosis over the last five years, compared with only a couple of cases in the early 2000s. "Could that be related to this new tick? We don't really know yet. That's part of what we are following," the official said.
Officials emphasized prevention and early diagnosis: people who get tick bites and develop fever, rash or fatigue should seek medical evaluation because these infections are treatable. Recommended precautions included wearing long pants and socks, avoiding tall grass and doing tick checks of people and pets after outdoor activities. No regulatory actions or eradication orders were announced during the segment.
