The primary-ever recorded Northeast case of a tick-borne illness was reported in Connecticut, officers stated.
Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis is a kind of noticed fever transmitted by way of contaminated mites and tick bites, in line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
It’s much like Rocky Mountain noticed fever however with extra gentle signs, which may embody complications, fever, rashes and muscle aches, in line with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
The illness sometimes festers in southern states, primarily Florida, however has steadily unfold up the East Coast during the last 80 years, in line with the CAES.
The unfold of R. parkeri rickettsiosis can seemingly be attributed to components like rising international temperatures, elevated journey and technological adjustments, Dr. Goudarz Molaei, director of CAES’ Passive Tick and Tick-Borne Illness Surveillance Program, stated.
“It’s anticipated that warming temperatures associated to local weather change might result in the continued vary growth and abundance of a number of tick species, rising their significance as rising threats to people, domesticated animals, and wildlife,” Molaei stated in an announcement.
The Gulf Coast tick, the breed that spreads R. parkeri rickettsiosis, first made its residence in Fairfield County in 2021, in line with Molaei. About 30% of all Gulf Coast ticks carry the illness.
Afterward, the ticks unfold to components of New York and New Jersey with even greater an infection charges in 2022 and 2024, respectively — although human instances didn’t materialize till now.
Connecticut isn’t any stranger to tick-borne illnesses and is even residence to a city named after Lyme illness, which was first found within the state.
Residents are inspired to verify for ticks after spending time in notably wooded areas. Prevention methods embody Environmental Safety Company-approved repellants and limiting pores and skin publicity outside.
