First Longhorned Tick confirmed in Arkansas

WEBVTT IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. TONIGHT, WE’RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT A RARE TICK FOUND IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LONGHORNED TICK. IT WAS FIRST FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR. SINCE THEN, IT’S ONLY BEEN FOUND IN FOUR STATES, THE LATEST BEING ARKANSAS. WE SPOKE TO A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WHO SAYS THE CONCERN IS BECAUSE THE TICK IS RARE, AND NOT MUCH IS KNOWN ABOUT IT. >> I GUESS ONE REASON FOR THE CONCERN IS THE UNKNOWN. WILL IT ESTABLISH HERE? WILL IT EXPAND ITS RANGE? WHAT PATHOGENS MAY IT CARRY? MAY IT BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT. AND ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING IS IT’S A POTENTIAL THREAT FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION. PAIGE: THE TICK HAS BEEN FOUND TO CARRY BACTERIAL AND VIRAL DISEASES, BUT THE PROFESSOR SAYS THOSE DISEASES HAVE ONLY SHOWN UP IN CHINA, AND NOT I

The USDA confirmed the presence of the Longhorned Tick in Arkansas for the first time.The tick came from a dog in Benton County, according to the Arkansas Agriculture Department.The Longhorned Tick is an exotic East Asian tick associated with bacterial and viral disease of both humans and animals. The USDA considers it a serious threat to livestock.The tick is also believed to cause diseases in humans, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. That disease was described in a 2014 CDC dispatch as "a newly emerging infectious disease." "Multiorgan failure occurs in severe cases, and 6%-30% of case-patients die," according to the dispatch.The Longhorned Tick was first confirmed to be in the United States in November 2017, when a specimen was identified in New Jersey. It has also been found in Virginia and West Virginia.Longhorned Ticks are very small and resemble tiny spiders. The Arkansas Agriculture Department warns they can easily go unnoticed on animals and people.The department asks that animal owners, veterinarians and farmers notify the Arkansas Agriculture Department if they notice unusual ticks or ticks that occur in large numbers on a single animal.Click or tap here to learn how to protect yourself and your family from ticks.

BENTON COUNTY, Ark. —

The USDA confirmed the presence of the Longhorned Tick in Arkansas for the first time.

The tick came from a dog in Benton County, according to the Arkansas Agriculture Department.

The Longhorned Tick is an exotic East Asian tick associated with bacterial and viral disease of both humans and animals. The USDA considers it a serious threat to livestock.

The tick is also believed to cause diseases in humans, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. That disease was described in a 2014 CDC dispatch as "a newly emerging infectious disease."

"Multiorgan failure occurs in severe cases, and 6%-30% of case-patients die," according to the dispatch.

The Longhorned Tick was first confirmed to be in the United States in November 2017, when a specimen was identified in New Jersey. It has also been found in Virginia and West Virginia.

Longhorned Ticks are very small and resemble tiny spiders. The Arkansas Agriculture Department warns they can easily go unnoticed on animals and people.

The department asks that animal owners, veterinarians and farmers notify the Arkansas Agriculture Department if they notice unusual ticks or ticks that occur in large numbers on a single animal.

Click or tap here to learn how to protect yourself and your family from ticks.

First Longhorned Tick confirmed in Arkansas

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