South Carolina Ping 
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Posted on 09/23/2022 9:03:13 AM PDT by Red Badger
VIDEO AT LINK.....
A pest management specialist from the University of Maine explains how to safely remove ticks. BY UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
South Carolina meat lovers may want to do all they can to prevent bites from the lone star tick. It’s tick season in South Carolina until the end of September and while all these blood-sucking insects can potentially transmit different diseases, the lone star is known for causing alpha-gal syndrome — a type of food allergy to red meat.
According to Clemson University Public Service and Agriculture, the lone star tick is the most collected species in South Carolina. They will feed on humans and other animals.
ALPHA-GAL SYNDROME
The Mayo Clinic states that a lone star tick bite can transmit a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into a person’s body. In some people, this can trigger “an immune system reaction that later produces mild to severe allergic reactions to red meat, such beef, pork, lamb or other mammal products.” Researchers now believe that some people who test negative for other food allergies, but have frequent, unexplained anaphylactic reactions, might be affected by alpha-gal syndrome.
Symptoms Alpha-gal allergic reactions are usually delayed compared to other food allergies. While reactions to peanut or shellfish allergies can happen in minutes, alpha-gal syndrome reactions usually take 3 to 6 hours.
Signs and symptoms may include:
Hives, itching, or itchy, scaly skin (eczema)
Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other body parts
Wheezing or shortness of breath
A runny nose
Stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
Sneezing Headaches
A severe, potentially deadly allergic reaction that restricts breathing (anaphylaxis)
Seek emergency medical treatment if you develop signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis such as:
Difficulty breathing
Rapid, weak pulse
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Drooling and inability to swallow
Full-body redness and warmth (flushing)
LONE STAR TICK
The lone star tick can grow to about 0.4 inches in size, have flat bodies and eight legs. They are solid brown, though females also have a white, star-like dot on the middle of their backs. Lone star ticks prefer living in wooded environments and can be found anywhere that animals rest or feed. Often, the bite of a lone star tick will go undetected.
TICK PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
Avoiding tick bites is the key to prevention. Protect against tick bites by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts Use insect repellents when you’re in wooded, grassy areas Do a thorough, full-body tick check after spending time outside If you find a lone star tick on your body, remove it using tweezers. Pluck it from your body as close to the tick’s mouth parts as possible. Do not crush or squeeze the tick’s body, otherwise whatever pathogens it is harboring may be injected into the wound
Companion animal and livestock owners are encouraged to work with their veterinarian to determine an appropriate tick prevention and treatment program for their animals
Pasture and lawn control measures—such as maintaining low grass height, controlling weeds and other brushy areas, and removing woody debris from pasture and lawn edges—can reduce tick-bite risk.
Maintaining a 9-foot distance between pasture or lawn and wooded edge habitat can reduce the risk of tick contact
This story was originally published August 29, 2022 5:00 AM.
Read more at: https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article265024929.html#storylink=cpy
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South Carolina Ping If you'd like to be on or off the South Carolina ping list, just click Private Reply below and drop me a FReepmail.
We have them here in Maryland too! My husband has the Alpha Gal allergy and it is horrible! Aside from not eating mammal meat, mammal products are ingredients in so many things you wouldn’t expect.
ewwwww.
I stood on a mound of fire ants, and got like 20 bites on my left ankle. Not nearly as bad as people say. It did raise white welt blisters over the next few days though.
I have actually gotten dizzy from multiple Fire ant STINGS..................
Ticks especially the Lone Star tick have been developed for bio-warfare purposes since right after WW II. Plum Island, Fort Dietrich, Pine Bluff Arsenal and Hamilton Labs have been involved. There have been a bunch of escapes and purposeful releases.
Friend of mine got this. Sucks.
damn, you’d think you’d notice something that big...
Thanks for the ping, upchuck.
FWIW, I’ve been living in SC since 2003 and I’ve never seen a tick or had one on my body.
Disclaimer: I do not do to places that are a tick paradise: woods, grass taller than 6 inches, etc.
𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮......................
I hear Guinea Hens are good at keeping the yard tick free, and they’re supposed to be good eating to boot.
LOL !
Imagine the size if they were actually in Texas ?
I got STARI from one of those guys. Twas an ugly and nasty rash.
We currently live in woods in Connecticut. We've both had those disgusting ticks embedded under our skin a few times. FORTUNATELY neither of us has ever gotten Lyme Disease (named after Lyme, CT). But we know several CT residents who have had Lyme Disease. With lasting damage...
In SC we will *not* be living in woods.
They also eat snakes as well. Possums eat ticks too- that’s why I always try to avoid hitting them while I’m driving.
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