KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A Lone Star Tick has been identified in Kalamazoo County.
The Kalamazoo County Government Health and Community Services Department confirming the tick was found during a routine tick drag on Friday, May 20.
The drags are being performed this summer by Environmental Health to capture and identify blacklegged ticks which are known to transmit Lyme disease. The Lone Star Tick is one that has a distinctive white “Lone Star” marking on it’s back, and is typically located in the eastern, southeastern, and south-central portions of the U.S., but is known to be found in southern Michigan.
It has also been identified in the past few years in other counties throughout Michigan.
Health officials warn the Lone Star Tick will readily bite people and animals and is a vector of human ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland virus, Bourbon virus, and Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI). This tick is not known to be a vector of Lyme disease. This tick is also known to cause Alpha-Gal syndrome which is an allergic reaction associated with the consumption of red (mammalian) meat.
Health experts say that preventing tick bites is essential to preventing tick-borne disease, to include using insect repellent with DEET and performing tick checks.
Environmental Health will continue to perform vector-disease surveillance in Kalamazoo County, including tick drags and mosquito trapping.
The following are tips on preventing Mosquito-Borne and Tick-Borne Diseases:
• Empty and wash all outdoor containers that collect water (small pools, feeding bowls, open rain collection barrels, buckets, birdbaths, etc.) at least once a week.
• Keep swimming pools properly treated to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
• Keep trash containers properly covered.
• Use and repair screens on your home windows.
• Wear tall socks, pants and long sleeves when outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn.
• Use insect repellent with DEET and registered by the EPA on skin and treat clothing with permethrin to repel biting insects. Always follow label directions.
For more information on ticks, identification, and prevention, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/
