Kansas officials issued a public notice after testing confirmed the invasive Asian longhorned tick was identified in Franklin County and posed an emerging threat to animal and human health. Successful Farming reports this was the first known detection in Kansas of the prolific tick, which afflicts wildlife, pets, and livestock.
The tick is a hazard for cattle as it infects red and white blood cells and causes weakness, fever, loss of appetite, and even death. The reddish-brown tick is known to carry a variety of pathogens and has proven efficient at establishing populations in new areas due to its ability to reproduce without mating. In Asia, the tick has transmitted a virus causing human hemorrhagic fever.
“Right now, our concern is mainly for cattle,” said Gregg Hanzlicek, a Kansas State University professor. “But like any tick, people should take precautions: wear long sleeves, use insect repellent, and check for ticks after being in grassy or wooded areas.”
-NAFB