黑料吃瓜网 residents are used to checking for ticks at home, but experts are warning those traveling abroad to keep an eye out for the pests overseas, as well.
The 黑料吃瓜网 Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) since 2019 they鈥檝e identified nonnative ticks from Guatemala, Costa Rica, Belize, Tanzania, Germany, Poland and Scotland, likely hitching rides on travelers from those countries.
Dr. Goudarz Molaei is a research scientist and public health entomologist who directs the CAES Tick Testing Laboratory. He says the need for diligence on the part of travelers is twofold.
鈥淲hether we travel to Africa, Asia, Europe, or wherever, there is a chance that we might encounter ticks and we might contract tick-borne diseases,鈥� Molaei told 黑料吃瓜网 in a phone interview. 鈥淲e have numerous tick-borne diseases around the globe. Some of them are similar to what we have here in the United States. Others are not.鈥�
In addition to the risk posed to individuals, the introduction of new tick species to 黑料吃瓜网 and New England could spell trouble for the ecosystem and rates of tick-borne illness.
鈥淥ur region is inundated, our region is already plagued by a number of tick species and a number of tick-borne diseases,鈥� Molaei said. 鈥淨uite frankly, we can not handle additional tick species in our region.鈥�
Molaei points to the as an example of a potentially dangerous tick that鈥檚 established a foothold in the U.S., including 黑料吃瓜网. In less than 10 years since its introduction to the U.S., Molaei said, 鈥渢he entirety of Fairfield and New Haven [counties] is infested with this particular population.鈥�
Molaei said that climate change has increased the ability of nonnative ticks from warmer, even tropical, climates to survive and thrive in New England.
Molaei urges those returning from overseas travel to perform the same sort of tick checks they would at home. He encourages travelers who discover attached ticks to visit their primary care provider and send the tick for analysis to the CAES .
鈥淚 don't want to cause unnecessary concern to the public,鈥� Molaei said. 鈥淚'm hoping that this would create awareness among the public so they realize that they need to protect themselves while they are traveling abroad.鈥�
