Ticknado!

The weather is warming up, maybe! So, that means the ticks are coming out to feed!  Actually, for most areas of Maryland the ticks are out and about all year long.  Even in snowy Boston, it was thought with all the cold, the ticks would actually die off - not!  The snow actually functions as an excellent insulator - so as the snow melts the ticks emerge ready to feed!

One of the  ticks getting media attention - is the Lone Star Tick.

Lone star tick can make you allergic to red meat

By Rhodi Lee, Tech Times | August 14, 7:03 AM

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A growing number of people were forced to give up their love for red meat after they were bitten by the Lone star tick. The bite induces an allergic reaction that causes people to get hives and experience swelling after beef, venison and other red meats.
(Photo : CDC)

Americans love to eat red meat. Unfortunately, a growing number of people were forced to stop eating this gastronomic delight after being bitten by a type of tick.

The lone star tick, which is commonly found in wooded areas from Texas to Maine and all across the Southeast, is causing people who had been gorging hamburgers and steaks their whole life to develop an allergy to red meat. While the number of cases has increased due to the spread of the ticks from Texas all along the Eastern Coast, many are still unaware of this growing problem.

Erin McGintee, an allergist who has seen 200 cases of people who suddenly developed a meat allergy on Long Island, N.Y., said that it could be bizarre for some people to think that they are allergic to red meat when they had been eating it their entire life.

Robert Valet, an allergist from the Vanderbilt University, said that the tick bite could induce severe allergic reactions that could require hospitalization to treat. Valet said that within three to six hours after consuming red meat, a person who has the allergy can get hives, experience swelling and have difficulty breathing. Some could even develop severe allergic reaction that could lead to the closing of their airways.

Experts believe that the problem is caused by a sugar called alpha-gal, which is passed by the lone star tick when it bites its victim. Once the alpha-gal enters the blood stream, the body's immune system flags this as an invader and begins producing antibodies against it. Unfortunately, the sugar also happens to be present in all red meats, including venison, pork and beef, so consuming red meat eventually prompts the immune system to respond, resulting in allergic reactions.

It isn't yet clear if this tick bite-induced meat allergy is permanent or only temporary as some people show signs of recovery while others do not. Experts, however, said it will be best for the sufferers to avoid getting more tick bites as this could induce the rise of more antibodies. This means avoiding brush areas, and wearing clothing that can keep the ticks from biting the skin.

"The most important thing you can do if you develop the allergy, along with avoiding red meat, is to avoid more tick bites since the number of antibodies will rise if there are more tick bites," infectious disease specialist Dr. Amesh Adalja, from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said.

The lone star ticks also spread several serious bacterial infections, such as ehrlichiosis and the potentially deadly tularemia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms usually appear within 30 days of a bite and can include fatigue, a fever, headache or muscle pain and swollen glands. There also can be a circular rash that resemlbes the one with Lyme rash, although experts believe that the rash is sparked by a different bacterium. It's usually treated with oral antibiotics.

Some additional resources for information on Lone Star Ticks

www.cdc.gov/stari/disease

http://www.tickencounter.org/tick_identification/lone_star_tick

Black Legged Ticks - also known as Deer Ticks

The CDC provides an excellent resource page on the Deer Tick and Lyme Disease  visit the link below as this is a very comprehensive site for information on Lyme Disease and how to prevent tick bites!

www.cdc.gov/lyme

Recently while hiking in Calvert County - I came across this simple sign.  It covers the high points and provides the basics for visitors.

We are in the great outdoors all the time, and often do not have the luxury of staying on trails, so it is important that you take all necessary steps to protect yourself from tick bites.  Tick bites that occur on the job, should be documented through a First Report of Injury.  

Ticks generally need to be attached 24-36 hours to transmit infection.  Some good habits following time in the outdoors:

Information taken directly from the CDC Website:

While it is a good idea to take preventive measures against ticks year-round, be extra vigilant in warmer months (April-September) when ticks are most active.

Avoid Direct Contact with Ticks

• Avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
• Walk in the center of trails.

Repel Ticks with DEET or Permethrin

• Use repellents that contain 20 to 30% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on exposed skin and clothing for protection that lasts up to several hours. Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth.
• Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin. It remains protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may provide longer-lasting protection.
• Other repellents registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may be found at Insect Repellents: Use and Effectiveness .

Find and Remove Ticks from Your Body

• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within 2 hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you.
• Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body upon return from tick-infested areas. Parents should check their children for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and especially in their hair.
• Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and day packs.
• Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for an hour to kill remaining ticks. (Some research suggests that shorter drying times may also be effective, particularly if the clothing is not wet.)

  A little ticknado humor to end this post!  

On a personal note:

Protection at work is important and also as you recreate on your personal time.  Today ticks are even being found in urban areas, where once they were uncommon.  I personally have been bitten by a tick and infected with Lyme disease - and was treated several times before we were able to knock out the infection, including a month on IV antibiotics. This disease manifests itself in many ways - it very much depends on your personal metabolism.  Report your tick bites, save the tick if you find one attached. If a rash/fever appears see your physician.  

I know of at least one Ranger who has had a red meat allergy reaction to a Lone Star tick bite - please pay attention and take precautions at the end of your day to protect yourself from tick bits. 

Regards,

Ranger Robin