Archive for the ‘Ticks’ Category

Health Officials Warn Lone Star Ticks Multiplying In Connecticut

https://www.newtownbee.com/06282020/health-officials-warn-lone-star-ticks-multiplying-in-state/

Health Officials Warn Lone Star Ticks Multiplying In State

280px-Lone-star-tick-stages-cdc CDC – http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2013/07/researchers-trace-novel-heartland-virus-missouri-ticks Public Domain

By John Voket
Published: Jun 28, 2020

As if Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert was not busy enough handling coronavirus issues, she is now grappling with the news that the aggressive lone star tick is proliferating in the region.

Culbert, who has made tickborne disease education a hallmark of her administration, told The Newtown Bee this week that the latest news from colleague Goudarz Molaei, PhD, at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) is disturbing considering how many local residents are already suffering from related illnesses.

“The Newtown Health District is always concerned about tick bites and tick-borne disease, and news of the lone star tick becoming established in the region adds to the concern,” Culbert said. “Although our office has not yet received a lone star tick submitted to our office for identification yet this year, I am not naive enough to think that they aren’t out there.”

Review Connecticut’s latest information about the lone star tick by CLICKING HERE  (See link for article)

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**Comment**

Key Quote:  

Previously limited to the southeastern US, lone star ticks have been detected in areas with no previous record of activity….

And that includes Wisconsin:

Excerpt:

….he diagnoses approximately 1 patient per month with Alpha-gal allergy and that the reactions can be severe, from passing out to life-threatening reactions.

The lone star tick is an aggressive biter that gives highly irritating bites.  It’s known to transmit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

Activism, Alpha Gal Meat Allergy, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ticks, Transmission, Tularemia, Viruses

House Passes Chris Smith Measure To Probe if Government Turned Ticks Into Bioweapons

https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/smith-tick/?


Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton).

House passes Chris Smith measure to probe if government turned ticks into bioweapons

New Jersey congressman wants GAO to investigate whether diseased ticks were ‘accidentally or intentionally’ released

By David Wildstein, July 21 2020

Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton) says there are credible assertions that government researchers at Ft. Detrick and Plum Island turned ticks into bioweapons.

Now the 20-term New Jersey Republican wants the government to investigate whether ticks were ever weaponized with Lyme disease or other hazardous pathogens.

Smith’s congressional colleagues agree with him.

Last night, the House approved an amendment sponsored by Smith that requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to determine if ticks were ever weaponized with Lyme disease or other hazardous pathogens.

This is Smith’s second bid to get his proposed law passed.  In 2019, he sponsored a similar measure giving the job to the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General. (See link for article)

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**Comment**

After a year of silence and waiting we find out the inspector general at the Pentagon didn’t have the bandwidth to launch an investigation. (Translation – I don’t have any balls and I’m passing the football to someone else)

Now it heads to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Want to place bets on us having to wait another year or more to find out the GAO also doesn’t have bandwidth to launch an investigation?

Sigh….you gotta love government bureaucracy.

 

 

Category:

Activism, Ticks

Ticks & Lyme Disease: Information For Families

https://globallymealliance.org/videos/webinar-ticks-and-lyme-disease-information-for-families/

Global Lyme Alliance and Ranger Ready Repellents recently hosted a webinar, “Ticksand Lyme Disease: Information for the Family.” The webinar is part of GLA & Ranger Ready Repellents partnership & combined mission to stem the alarming increase of Lyme disease through education and awareness.

Mayla Hsu, Ph.D., Director of Science and Research for GLA joined Ranger Ready Founder and CEO, Chris L. Fuentes, to give helpful tips on how the whole family can safely enjoy the outdoors.

Dr. Hsu & Fuentes addressed common misconceptions regarding ticks and Lyme disease.

“Your backyard is probably the most likely place to be bitten by a tick or bring a tick into your house,” said Fuentes.

View the full webinar below.

Approx. 36 Min.

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**Comment**

So thankful they discussed migrating birds as research has shown they are prolific carriers of ticks:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/07/ticks-on-the-move-due-to-migrating-birds-and-photoperiod-not-climate-change/

They recommend against having bird feeders in your yard due to this.

They also mention gardening and the need to where permethrin on your clothing and things like picaradin on your skin.

They state ticks can be located higher up on trees and bushes because squirrels and birds bring these ticks with them. This man states he got infected on a patio deck due to an overhanging tree:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/07/13/tv-anchor-speaks-out-about-lyme-disease/

They also mention pets.  They call dogs “tick taxis.”  Never allow them on your bed and furniture.  Also consider car seats:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/12/pet-owners-have-nearly-2-times-the-risk-of-finding-ticks/

I appreciated the video on how to apply repellent. Wearing a tucked in undershirt is smart (albeit hot!) as well as long white socks, tucking pants into the socks.  Make sure to also spray shoes. I make everyone strip clothing off in garage, and then put all clothing into dryer on high for 20 min.  Then, take a shower when coming indoors.  You will need to apply permethrin onto clothing the day before use so there is plenty of time to dry. Spray ALL clothing, hats, socks, pants, shirts, etc.  Picaradin is for your skin that you apply before you head outside.  You need both types of repellents.

When talking about ticks – she states, “you can squash it.”  Please, do not touch the tick if you squash it as you could potentially become infected this way.  Many recommend testing the tick.  Some states will do this free for residents.  Unfortunately, Wisconsin does NOT do this.

More on Tick Prevention:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/12/tick-prevention-2019/

More on Ranger Ready:  https://rangerready.com  They state their product lasts for 12 hours against ticks and mosquitoes. (I have no affiliation with this company)

https://globallymealliance.org/education-awareness/be-tick-aware/

5 steps in removing a tick:  https://globallymealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GLA_5-steps_when-you-find-a-tick-attached.pdf

Tick testing:  https://lymediseaseassociation.org/about-lyme/tick-removal-a-testing/tick-testing-2/

 

 

 

 

Category:

Activism, Prevention, research, Ticks

Tick-Borne Pathogens Detected in Blood of Immunosuppressed Norwegian Patients Living in a Tick-Endemic Area

https://academic.oup.com/cid/article-abstract/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa971/5871078?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Tick-Borne Pathogens Detected in the Blood of Immunosuppressed Norwegian Patients Living in a Tick-Endemic Area

Hanne Quarsten, Tore Salte, Åslaug R Lorentzen, Inger J W Hansen, Runar Hamre, Kristine J N Forselv, Øivind Øines, Christine Wennerås, Sølvi Noraas
Clinical Infectious Diseases, ciaa971, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa971
Published:  14 July 2020
Excerpt:

The predominant pathogen was:

  • Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (12/14), which was carried in the blood of infected patients for 10-59 days until treatment with doxycycline.
  • Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato
  • Rickettsia spp. were detected in one patient each. The B. burgdorferi-infected patient presented with fever, whereas the remaining patients were judged to have subclinical infections.
  • Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia spp. were not detected in any patient.

(See link for article)

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**Comment**

Considering testing is abysmal, and the PCR was never intended to diagnose patients, chances are great that more patients had tick-borne illness than what is recorded in this study:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/05/07/was-the-covid-19-test-meant-to-detect-a-virus/

Key quote:

I’m skeptical that a PRC test is ever true.

Notice the observation of “subclinical” infections.  I would add that many cases are subclinical as well as atypical, meaning they don’t fit the textbook description.  To date nobody has really discovered what being coinfected does to the human body in terms of symptom manifestation. Some studies have found that coinfected cases are more severe:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/09/05/babesia-subverts-adaptive-immunity-and-enhances-lyme-disease-severity/

From experience I can state that many of the coinfections I had didn’t surface until I’d been in Lyme treatment for a while.  Then, other non-Lyme symptoms reared their ugly heads and finally abated with appropriate treatment.  This isn’t even considered by mainstream medicine which continues to view this as a one-pathogen, one-drug issue which it clearly is not for many patients:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/30/study-shows-lyme-msids-patients-infected-with-many-pathogens-and-explains-why-we-are-so-sick/

Another issue with this study is once again it assumes 10-60 days of treatment is sufficient.  Big assumption that’s been killing people or making their lives miserable.  Thromboembolic complications is hardly the only thing these poor people could have.  The list of possible complications is virtually endless.

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

research, Testing, Ticks

Tick Disease With Coronavirus-Like Symptoms Is On A Rise in Michigan

https://www.petoskeynews.com/featured-pnr/tick-disease-with-coronavirus-like-symptoms-is-on-a-rise-in-michigan/

Tick disease with coronavirus-like symptoms is on a rise in Michigan

Chanel Stitt, Detroit Free Press

tick
An adult deer tick is shown.

As if we don’t already have already have enough worries, health officials are warning Michiganders to guard against a tick borne disease that mimics COVID-19 symptoms.

Anaplasmosis is still rare in Michigan but the number of cases reported yearly in the state is on the rise.

There were 12 documented cases of anaplasmosis in Michigan reported to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in 2019. Michigan has seen an increase over the last six years, with only four cases reported in 2014.

The symptoms are very much like those reported with the coronavirus: fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, headaches and maybe a little fatigue. People experiencing those range of symptoms are advised to seek medical attention.

(See link for article)

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For more on Anaplasmosis:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/03/08/anaplasmosis/

For more on COVID & Lyme:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/05/30/a-tale-of-two-pandemics-lyme-covid-19-dr-bransfield/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/11/the-disease-thats-mistaken-for-covid-19/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/02/lyme-disease-symptoms-could-be-mistaken-for-covid-19-with-serious-consequences/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/06/09/bishops-stortford-woman-blogs-about-life-with-lyme-coronavirus/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/04/23/another-lyme-patient-with-covid-19-speaks/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/03/29/corona-with-a-twist-of-lyme/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/04/19/lyme-patients-speak-out-on-having-covid-19/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/07/experts-fear-bad-tick-season-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/07/covid-19-could-lead-to-increase-in-tick-borne-illness-experts-say-heres-why/

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Ticks, Viruses