Experts warn of disease-carrying Asian longhorned tick spreading across 20 US states
The invasive tick, first detected in New Jersey in 2017, has now reached Maine, raising concerns over its potential to spread serious infections.
A tick capable of transmitting dangerous diseases has now been confirmed in more than 20 states across the US, with health experts warning of its growing impact on both humans and animals.
The Asian longhorned tick, originally from East Asia, was first discovered in the United States in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, it has steadily moved across the eastern part of the country. Researchers at the University of Maine confirmed the presence of the species in July, marking its furthest spread into the northeast.
Although it is not clear how the tick entered the country, public health records suggest that pets and livestock may have helped carry it into new areas. Since its arrival, the tick has been linked to several serious illnesses. These include severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, which can cause high fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney complications and internal bleeding, and ehrlichiosis, which often begins with flu-like symptoms but can become life-threatening if untreated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that visits to emergency departments for tick bites this July were higher than in any of the past eight years.
Experts say climate change is making it more difficult to predict the spread of the species. Goudarz Molaei of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station warned that warmer winters could allow ticks to remain active throughout the year. Connecticut’s public health commissioner, Manisha Juthani, also said changing conditions mean health authorities must be prepared for infections that previously would have been less common.
In Maine, officials are monitoring the situation closely. Griffin Dill, director of the University of Maine Extension Tick Lab, said that while the discovery may be an isolated case, ongoing surveillance is crucial. State and federal agencies are now working together to track the spread of the species.
With the tick continuing to expand its range, public health officials are urging residents to remain aware of the potential risks when outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy environments.
