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Are Ticks A Threat To People In Texas? Here's What Experts Say Are Diseases To Worry About

The danger posed by ticks increases during this time of year, though the rates of tick-borne diseases here in Texas are much lower than many other states.

People are exposed by entering an area where ticks exist or come into contact with other warm-blooded animals carrying the parasites, according to the Texas Farm Bureau. Diseases that can be transmitted from ticks to humans are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.

"All ticks feed on warm-blooded animals by attaching themselves to the skin using their mouthparts. Tick 'bites' can be painful and cause localized inflammation, swelling, loss of blood (anemia), open hosts to secondary infections and possibly transmit disease agents such as those causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease and tularemia," says Texas A&M's insect field guide. "The bite of a tick is not initially felt. If the tick attaches near the back of the neck and feeds there a while, injecting salivary secretions, the vertebrate victim may suffer from 'tick paralysis', which may result in total paralysis and death unless the tick is removed."

There are 11 species of ticks common in Texas, but you're most likely to come into contact with the black-legged tick, brown dog tick, Lone Star tick, Gulf Coast tick and American dog tick.

Tick-borne diseases

Ticks are most active in the warmer months of spring and summer and can transmit a variety of diseases, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services:

Anaplasmosis: Symptoms are fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue

Ehrlichiosis: Fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue

Lyme disease: Not commonly acquired in Texas. May cause skin lesions or rash, fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint aches. If left untreated, it causes severe damage to the joints, heart and nervous system.

Spotted fever rickettsiosis: Fever and a measles-like rash. Can cause serious illness if not treated quickly.

Tick-borne relapsing fever: Can cause fever, headache, muscle and joint aches and nausea.

Tularemia: Transmitted through handling infected animals. May include fever, malaise, skin lesions and swollen lymph nodes.

How to prevent tick bites

Wearing hats, long-sleeved shirts and pants in light colors as well as tucking pants into boots or socks and closed-toe shoes will protect your skin.

Keep grass mowed and bushes trimmed.

Check yourself after being outdoors. If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers.

Contact a doctor if you have fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain or swollen lymph nodes within 30 days of a tick bite.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever—why This Tick-borne Virus Could Become More Common In Richer Countries

Climate change is already having, and will continue to have, a significant effect on global health. This is likely to be greatest in rural poorer populations in sub-Saharan Africa. However, richer countries, such as the UK, will also probably be on the receiving end of emerging infectious disease threats as the country warms.

Infections that are mainly found in the tropics are on the move to new locations. Dengue, a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, is becoming more widely reported in European countries, particularly in some parts of Italy and France. The West Nile virus, which is also spread by mosquitoes, has been common across many states in the US, with typically more than 1,000 cases reported each year.

Another virus shifting to new locations is the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), which is transmitted by ticks. Most cases occur in Africa or Asia, but cases have been reported in several European countries, including Spain, Turkey, Greece, Russia and Ukraine, with recent media reports warning we might see the virus arrive in the UK.

So what is CCHFV, and should we be worried? Let's take a look.

There are approximately 15,000 cases of CCHFV a year, globally. CCHFV is a serious pathogen—typically between 10-40% of people who contract the virus will die from it.

As the name suggests, CCHFV is part of a group of diseases known as viral hemorrhagic fevers. These are described as causing "severe multi-system syndrome", meaning multiple organ systems in the body are affected. These infections can also be accompanied by severe bleeding. Other viruses in this group include Ebola, Marburg, dengue, and Rift Valley fever virus.

CCHFV is transmitted by a tick species called the Hyalomma tick. The virus was first identified in the Crimean Peninsula in 1944, with an outbreak in the Congo in 1956 resulting in the modern-day name. To avoid stigma, the linking of pathogen names to the site of the first known outbreaks is no longer practiced.

A tick bite is the most common way to contract CCHFV. Though transmission has also occurred after needlestick injuries or from infected blood, meaning there is some risk to healthcare workers.

But there is little sustained transmission between humans, with outbreaks typically relying on the presence of an infected tick. Hyalomma ticks can be found on a range of animals, including livestock and rabbits. Most animals appear to be able to carry the tick and the virus without becoming unwell.

In people infected with CCHFV, symptoms typically start with fever, muscle ache or dizziness, and can rapidly progress within a few days to kidney deterioration or sudden liver failure.

CCHFV is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a virus where there has been limited research but where the pathogen is considered to be a high threat.

There is no vaccine available, nor any established antiviral treatment. However, ribavirin, a medicine used to treat other viruses such as hepatitis C, has shown some promise.

Within the UK, there have so far only been small numbers of imported cases, where people have contracted the virus while traveling in high-risk areas.

There is ongoing research and surveillance in areas such as marshlands, where ticks and mosquitoes are caught and studied to see if there are any new or evolving threats. The Hyalomma tick is not currently established in the UK, and so the threat, for now, is very low.

Still, there are many other types of ticks in the UK, including those responsible for causing Lyme disease, which are usually found on vegetation. They cannot walk or fly, so the public health advice for protecting against tick bites includes avoiding brushing against vegetation when out for walks, carrying out regular tick checks and using repellents.

In areas where CCHFV is a higher risk, such as during or after an outbreak, hygienic storage of meat is thought to be important, and restrictions around the transport of animals may be introduced.

There is concern from the WHO and other health experts about the global spread of this Hyalomma tick. The wide range of animals on which the tick is found means there is potential for it to become endemic in new communities. The tick has also been detected in long-range migratory birds, and was found in 2018 in Sweden for the first time.

Viral hemorrhagic fevers like CCHFV can cause severe illness and death in some people who become infected. Also, localized outbreaks can have other consequences for poor farming communities, such as the slaughter of their cattle and subsequent loss of trade.

There is unlikely to be a significant number of cases of CCHFV in the UK at any point soon. However, as globalization increases and climate change continues to alter patterns of disease, it's plausible that the virus might pose a sustained threat in the future.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Tick-borne Illness, Including Lyme Disease, On Rise In Pennsylvania

Summer has arrived which means it's tick season, especially in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania has the most recorded cases of Lyme disease transmitted through ticks in the United States. And Bucks County has the second highest number of recorded cases in the state.

In 2020 there were 3,334 recorded cases of Lyme disease in Pennsylvania followed by New Jersey with 2,566 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials say it's important to be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease so it can be treated professionally right away. Symptoms are not to be mistaken for the flu as they are very similar. The CDC says symptoms include chills, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, and headaches all in place of a rash. A bullseye shaped rash appears in 70% to 80% of cases.

Officials urge caution and say we must be vigilant in the fight against tick bites.

When ticks bite, small amounts of their saliva may enter their host, potentially transmitting pathogens that they may have ingested from previous victims, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tick bites can often go unnoticed because of the anesthetic properties of their saliva.

File - Lyme disease transmitted through ticks is most prevalent in the warmer months of May through September. In 2021 46.1% of cases were recorded in just June and July alone according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

How prevalent is Lyme disease in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Department of Health recorded a ratio of 22.4 cases of Lyme disease per 100,000 persons in 2021. That is 2,900 cases in one year.

Lyme disease transmitted through ticks is most prevalent in the warmer months of May through September. In 2021 46.1% of cases were recorded in just June and July alone according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

According to the health department, the threat really depends where you live and your activities. Nine counties reported no cases of Lyme disease in 2021 and Chester County reported the most with 403 cases. In 2020, the CDC reported 295 cases in Bucks County and 291 in Montgomery County.

Although Lyme disease is the most prevalent of the tick-borne diseases in Pennsylvania, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and spotted fever rickettsiosis are also a risk from bites. The health department has 683 anaplasmosis cases, 15 ehrlichiosis cases, and eight spotted fever rickettsiosis cases recorded for 2021.

Story continues

New tick-borne diseases

Over an eight-year period tick-borne illnesses have significantly increased, according to federal health officials. And there are some new tick-borne diseases to be on the lookout for this summer.

According to American Family Care, a man in Maine was just pronounced dead from Powassan disease. This tick-borne illness is carried by the common black-legged tick that carries Lyme disease.

If you experience a fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures or memory loss call your doctor right away, as these are symptoms of Powassan disease. There is not a vaccine to treat this disease, according to the CDC.

Cases are rare in Pennsylvania, but have increased over time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reports babesiosis, caused by parasites the ticks also carry, is on the rise throughout New England, New York, New Jersey and Delaware. It is suspected to be up in Pennsylvania, but it is not tracked here.

The state health department, however, calls it "an emerging tick-borne disease in Pennsylvania."

Babesiosis is treatable if caught early enough, and causes various symptoms similar to Lyme disease symptoms.

It can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome, anemia, congestive heart failure, renal failure, shock and coma, and disseminated intravascular coagulation if it is not treated according to American Family Care.

Babesiosis in PA: Pennsylvania won't tell you if dangerous tick-borne disease is in your neighborhood

How to prevent tick bites and tick-borne diseases?

It is important to be aware when you enter a tick ridden vicinity such as a wooded area, tall grass, and even your own backyard. Try to stay on trails and away from greenery or wood, and wear clothes that will protect your skin.

The CDC says the best way to prevent ticks in your yard is to cut the grass frequently, create a barrier between grass and wooden structures or areas to avoid tick migration, avoid unwanted animals with a fence, keep playground structures, decks, and patios, away from trees and yard edges, and remove leaf litter, old furniture, mattresses, or trash from your yard.

According to the CDC another way to avoid ticks is the use of a permethrin product on clothing and gear, and insect repellents registered by the Environmental Protection Agency.

After you enter a building, it is important to check yourself, pets, clothing, and other gear for ticks.

It is important to consider a shower, the use of a lint roller to collect loose ticks on yourself and pets, and tumble drying your clothing after possibly being exposed to ticks.

More: PA Lyme presents docudrama on Lyme, tick-borne illnesses

What do I do after I have removed the tick?

If you believe you have found a tick on yourself, others, or pets, remove it immediately with tweezers. Be careful not to twist or squeeze the bug. You may save it in a Ziploc bag or a jar with rubbing alcohol. Contact your local agricultural extension office or state agriculture department to identify the species of tick. You may also order a test from ticklab.Org to identify the risk of any tick-borne illnesses before symptoms occur.

It is important to follow up with a doctor or veterinarian after you find a tick, especially if symptoms appear.

Get free tick testing in PA

According to Director of Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab of East Stroudsburg, Nicole Chinnici, at a public hearing in 2021, The Committee of Health and Human Services awarded the PA Tick Research Lab a $500,000 grant in 2018 that allowed them to set up free tick testing for the public.

Ticklab.Org will test your tick and provide you results. The research lab then uses the data from the ticks they have since collected to analyze tick-borne diseases, tick distribution, and tick exposures. This data can all be found on the website.

From our archives: Family wants to raise awareness of tick-borne disease after Newtown Township man's death

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: It's tick season in Pennsylvania. What you need to know

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