Tick season is beginning in Georgia, bringing with it the potential for serious and debilitating tick-borne illnesses.
Some illnesses spread through tick bites have been known threats in Georgia for some time, while others, such as Alpha-gal syndrome, have only recently emerged.
Residents need to be aware of these risks as they venture outdoors.
Alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS, is a tick-borne red meat allergy spread by the aggressive lone star tick, the most likely tick to bite in Georgia.
The lone star tick’s range extends from Texas to Minnesota and eastward.
AGS is unlike other food allergies; its symptoms—including itching and nausea to trouble breathing and life-threatening anaphylaxis—often appear several hours after meat consumption.
This delayed reaction can make it challenging to identify the food responsible for triggering the reactions.
According to the CDC, AGS is relatively new, leading to misdiagnoses by health care providers who may not recognize the condition.
In a recent nationwide survey, 42 percent of health care providers indicated they had never heard of AGS, while another 35 percent lacked confidence in diagnosing or treating patients with AGS.
The CDC warned last year of the rapid spread of lone star ticks and estimates that nearly 450,000 individuals may be affected by AGS, which is four times the numbers estimated in initial studies.
If verified, this would make it the 10th most prevalent food allergy in the country.
Scientists speculate that a warming climate could make conditions more favorable for lone star ticks, while others believe the ticks are reestablishing themselves in areas where they were once eliminated due to habitat loss.
Lone star ticks often travel with preferred hosts, like deer, whose populations have rebounded in forests that have been restored.
Besides lone star ticks, black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are widespread in Georgia.
When bitten by these ticks, people risk contracting a number of serious illnesses, including Lyme disease.
While Lyme disease cases are more concentrated in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Upper Midwest, and Pacific Coast areas, Georgia residents are not immune.
Symptoms may take up to a month to develop and can include a rash, fever, headache, fatigue, and joint pain, potentially progressing to arthritis and other complications.
Another serious illness, babesiosis, is also spread by infected black-legged ticks and infects red blood cells, leading to flu-like symptoms that may be severe or fatal, particularly in those with weakened immune systems.
Other illnesses carried by black-legged ticks include anaplasmosis, which can cause fever, headache, and muscle pain, and the Powassan virus, which may lead to fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness.
In addition to these known threats, other tick-borne illnesses in Georgia include:
Ehrlichiosis, which is transmitted by both lone star and black-legged ticks and can manifest in fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and occasional upset stomach.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, spread by American dog ticks found across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., can be serious if not promptly treated.
Tularemia can be spread by American dog ticks, wood ticks, and lone star ticks, primarily found in the south-central U.S., the Pacific Northwest, and parts of Massachusetts.
This illness can be life-threatening but typically responds well to antibiotics, according to the CDC.
Rickettsiosis, a variant of spotted fever rickettsiosis transmitted by the Gulf tick, is prevalent in the Southeast.
Brown dog ticks are also prevalent across the United States, primarily feeding on dogs but also capable of biting humans and other mammals.
This tick can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the southwestern U.S.
Another surprising player in Georgia’s tick landscape is the Asian longhorned tick, a species not typically found in the Western Hemisphere.
First discovered in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in 2017, it has now established itself in at least 20 states, including Georgia.
While the Asian longhorned tick does not bite as aggressively as indigenous species, it poses possible health risks as it may spread pathogens that can cause serious illnesses in humans and animals in other countries.
Ongoing testing by the CDC aims to determine these ticks’ potential to transmit disease in the United States.
An experimental study suggests that longhorn ticks are not carriers of Lyme disease, but another lab study indicated they might carry and spread the bacteria responsible for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
However, the CDC has not found this bacteria in any longhorn ticks studied in natural settings.
Given the possibility of contracting these illnesses, it’s crucial for individuals to protect themselves against ticks when in environments where ticks thrive, such as grassy, brushy, and wooded areas, including backyards.
Some effective measures suggested by the CDC include:
Wearing socks and boots while tucking pants into the tops of the boots and covering hair.
Using tick-specific insect repellents can be beneficial, as well.
Additionally, treating clothing and gear—including boots, pants, socks, and tents—with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin adds another layer of protection.
Regular discussions with veterinarians about tick treatments for pets are also advisable.
It’s critical for individuals to check themselves for ticks daily, especially in areas such as under the arms, around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, on the waist, and along the hairline and scalp.
Showering soon after outdoor activities can help in detecting ticks early.
If a tick is found, it’s essential to use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it close to the skin’s surface.
Delaying tick removal, or using nail polish, petroleum jelly, or heat to make ticks detach, is ineffective.
As tick season unfolds, remaining informed and proactive can help Georgia residents mitigate the risks associated with these pesky and potentially dangerous creatures.
image source from：https://patch.com/georgia/atlanta/tick-season-starts-ga-know-what-watch-out
