Posted on 04/24/2018 8:36:54 AM PDT by Red Badger
HUNTERDON COUNTY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – A tiny parasite could become a big problem this year in New Jersey.
It’s an exotic tick that’s never been seen before in the United States. It was first spotted on a sheep in Hunterdon County, and efforts to wipe it out have failed.
New Jersey has always been home to different species of ticks – five to be exact. But a new variety of the bloodsucking bug is now in the mix.
It’s the East Asian tick, sometimes called a longhorned or bush tick. Originally found in Asia, thousands of them are now in the Garden State.
Their discovery started with a call.
“A phone call from a resident in Hunterdon County that her sheep was infested with a lot of ticks. She brought some in and, low and behold, she was also covered in the same ticks,” research microbiologist James Occi said. “It was kind of an odd looking thing. She didn’t know what it was, she had never seen them before.”
Occi works with entomologists at Rutgers University who tested the ticks. He said steps were taken to kill them, but just a few days ago he used carbon dioxide traps and found a number of the pests survived.
That’s a problem, because like the deer ticks that spread Lyme disease, East Asian ticks have been known to spread a deadly virus called SFTS.
“It has the potential. That’s why we’re worried,” said Occi.
Residents who Finch spoke with said it’s alarming to think they have something new to worry about when they head outdoors.
“There’s enough things you have to worry about. So hearing about new things that could potentially jeopardize the health of your home is something to be concerned about,” Hoboken resident Laurena Morris said.
“My biggest concern is that my dog would bring it home and somehow my son would get it,” said Caitlin Dibetta.
“More work has to be done to keep these out and find ways when they are introduced, to find natural predators to eliminate them,” Steve Maikowski said.
Scientists will treat the affected farm with pesticide this week in hopes of eliminating the exotic pets. How the ticks made it to New Jersey in the first place is still a mystery.
Tests done on ticks found in November did not reveal any tick-borne diseases. The ticks collected a few days ago are being tested now.
Just what we need, more blood sucking parasites. As if Trenton doesn’t have enough already.
That can't be because immgration makes us stronger. I read it in all the papers. The ticks probably came in on the back of a Russian spy who stopped in NJ to visit Trump at one of his golf courses there and plan the takeover of the USA.
Yeah, we have stink bugs too!
We’ve had those Down South forever..................
I know, we’ll infest the Asian carp with a modified GMO water borne version of the tick. Then I’ll take my meds.
Daaaya-ya-ya-ya-ya! as Spongebob would say. Between immigration and diversity, we ought to be considered the First Galactic Empire. Who could stand in our self-righteous, politically-correct, virtuous way?!!
Guineas. Guinea hens love ticks.
This same species swas fund on a horse in NJ in the 1960s, what’s new is finding the tick in all three life stages.
Nope I was born in and lived for 34 years in Fairfield county, Connecticut.
Check mate?
Lived on Mine St in Flemington 2001-2010 :)
Oh my you really got me there, so you lived in Fairfield for 34 years big deal. Does that give you the right to make disparaging and ignorant remarks about where other people live ?
It’s time to wipe out the deer herds in populated areas...
Some people have been scared away from bug repellent; any risk is worth avoiding Lyme Disease. Apply it generously, and just make sure to shower within a reasonable time. I’ve never had issues with ticks when using “Deep Woods Off”, and have had plenty of problem without it.
I went to the doctor after having a horrible fever, and insisted they check for Lyme Disease (I hike in northern NJ/southern NY state, and have dealt with many ticks). Some dopey assistant prescribed Tamiflu while I waited for the results, so after wasting the money on that they called a couple of days later and confirmed it was Lyme Disease. Never got the rash, but was fairly certain it could only be that (or another tick-borne illness).
Thankfully treatment was prompt and seemed to work just fine; a friend who was misdiagnosed years ago lives with the chronic condition - and that made me really stick to the antibiotic regimen.
“Does that give you the right to make disparaging and ignorant remarks about where other people live ?”
Yup. Because I espouse such insults upon those in Fairfield county too.
Nothing but New Englander leftists. Even the ones who claim to be firmly on the right are the “.. But...” conservatives.
There is no such thing as a conservative in these states. No such thing.
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