Connecticut researchers have discovered a dangerous bacterium in invasive Asian longhorned ticks that causes ehrlichiosis, a potentially fatal disease now threatening both humans and livestock across the United States.
Key Takeaways
- Asian longhorned ticks carrying ehrlichiosis-causing bacteria have been discovered in Connecticut, marking a significant public health concern.
- This invasive tick species has expanded its territory in the U.S. since 2010, with climate change enabling its northward spread.
- The ticks pose severe threats to livestock, having been linked to cattle deaths in Oklahoma in 2021.
- Experts recommend an integrated pest management approach including chemical-free methods and native plant landscaping to reduce tick populations.
- Public awareness and continued research are crucial as conventional pesticides alone cannot control these invasive ticks.
Invasive Tick Brings Dangerous Disease to American Soil
Health officials are sounding the alarm after researchers in Connecticut identified a dangerous pathogen in the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis). The tick, which has been spotted in the United States intermittently since 2010, carries bacteria that cause ehrlichiosis, a disease that can be severe or even fatal in humans and devastating to livestock. The discovery in Fairfield County confirms fears that these ticks are not merely an invasive species but a genuine public health emergency requiring immediate attention from government agencies.
“This discovery highlights the growing threat posed by invasive ticks,” Said Goudarz Molaei, Director of the CAES Passive Tick Surveillance Program
The Biden administration’s failure to secure our borders extends beyond human trafficking and drug smuggling – it now includes invasive species carrying deadly diseases. While Americans struggle with inflation and deteriorating healthcare access, resources are being diverted to non-citizens instead of addressing these emerging biological threats. The Asian longhorned tick has established populations in at least 18 states across the eastern and southern United States, with climate change allegedly enabling its expansion into more northern territories.
Severe Threat to Livestock and Human Health
The economic impact of these ticks could be devastating to American farmers already struggling under Biden’s failed economic policies. In 2021, the Asian longhorned tick was linked to cattle deaths in Oklahoma, where severe infestations caused anemia and death in livestock. A single female tick can reproduce asexually, laying up to 2,000 eggs without mating, allowing populations to explode rapidly. Infestations can become so severe that animals become physically weakened from blood loss, creating yet another burden for America’s food producers.
For humans, ehrlichiosis can cause fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches within 1-2 weeks of a tick bite. Without prompt antibiotic treatment, the disease can progress to serious complications including respiratory failure, bleeding disorders, neurological problems, and even death. Meanwhile, the government continues pouring billions into foreign aid rather than protecting Americans from these emerging health threats. The CDC’s response has been typically bureaucratic and slow, focusing on monitoring rather than aggressive intervention.
Effective Control Requires Integrated Approach
Unlike other pest problems, traditional chemical pesticides have proven largely ineffective against the Asian longhorned tick, requiring Americans to take personal protection measures while the government fails to address the root cause. Experts recommend products containing picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus for personal protection. Homeowners are also advised to maintain their properties by keeping grass short, removing leaf litter, and creating barriers between wooded areas and lawns to reduce tick habitat.
“For a variety of reasons, I tell people you cannot spray your way out of an Asian longhorned tick infestation — it will require an integrated approach,” Said Risa Pesapane, Assistant Professor at Ohio State University
Rather than addressing this invasive species threat with the seriousness it deserves, environmental agencies hampered by bureaucracy continue pushing ineffective “green” solutions while Americans face real health risks. Some researchers suggest rewilding yards with native plant gardens to disrupt tick-host interactions, but these measures alone cannot contain the rapidly spreading invasion. Only through coordinated action, secure borders against all invasive threats, and prioritizing American health concerns over global climate initiatives can we effectively combat this growing danger to our communities and agricultural economy.
