The Asian longhorned tick is the first invasive tick in the U.S. in about 80 years. It was found on an Icelandic sheep in New Jersey and has since been found on pets, livestock, wildlife and people in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The CDC reports there is no evidence the tick has spread pathogens to humans, domestic animals or wildlife. But officials are concerned that it may. It is a major livestock pest in other parts of the world and can make animals and people seriously ill.
Source: Washington Post, November 29, 2018. Link. The tick “is potentially capably of spreading a large number of diseases,” said Lyle Peterson, director of the CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases. “We really don’t know if diseases spread by this tick in the United States and , if so, to what extent. But, it’s very important that we figure this out quickly.”
INSIGHTS: Read what the CDC knows about this tick. Link.