The Local Edition

Asian longhorned ticks are here to stay in New York, and that means protection is key to ensuring the diseases they carry do not become harmful to livestock and people.

At Cornell Cooperative Extension in Albany County last Thursday, Joellen Marie Lampman presented “Tick (S)tock,” a talk about the growing risk ticks pose to livestock. Lampman works with Cornell Integrated Pest Management, where she educates different groups about preventive care when it comes to ticks. The event focused on how different types of ticks can affect animals and humans, and how people can best protect themselves from tick bites. In the Hudson Valley, Lampman said the expanding population of Asian longhorned ticks is becoming increasingly concerning.

According to Lampman, the first sighting of this particular tick in New York dates to 2010. A classification error complicated the record, and researchers later determined there had been a mix-up between a rabbit tick and an Asian longhorned tick.

“Part of the reason that we didn’t discover it for so long was that it looks almost identical to our native rabbit tick,” Lampman said. “So when we went back into our collections, we’re like, ‘Oh, that’s not a rabbit tick.’”

That resemblance does not diminish the fact that these ticks can pack a dangerous bite. Heavy infestations can negatively affect an animal’s health and productivity. Theileria orientalis ikeda is one of the livestock impacts. It can make livestock anemic, destroy red blood cells and leave animals lethargic.

For humans, these ticks can transmit ehrlichiosis. That can cause flu-like symptoms one to two weeks after the bite occurs. While mild symptoms are not usually deadly, treatment is still necessary.

“There’s two ways that we know Theileria can be spread, one is by reusing needles, so please don’t do that ’cause this is gonna be spreading throughout New York relatively quickly, and through this Asian longhorned tick,” Lampman said.

There is still research to be done on how this particular tick will affect livestock long term.

One of the main concerns with this tick, compared with the five other ticks prominent across the state, is that it is extremely invasive. Farmers have already reported high numbers of ticks on a single cow on their farms.

Lampman emphasized during the meeting that these ticks can reproduce without a mate. That means one female tick alone can clone herself and lay 2,000 eggs, all of them also female.

There are currently high numbers of Asian longhorned ticks in other parts of the state, but Lampman said those numbers will likely increase rapidly once this summer passes.

“You can see that it goes all the way up to Glens Falls,” Lampman said. “So we’ve got the habitat that they are on on Long Island that goes all the way up the Hudson River.”

One of the other unique elements of these ticks is that they are not picky eaters. Asian longhorned ticks can choose a wide range of hosts, including livestock and wildlife that is constantly moving, such as birds and deer.

They are native to East Asia and are now considered invasive in the U.S. The first traced sign of them was in 2017, even though research has shown earlier sightings through Cornell Cooperative Extension.

While these ticks prefer pastures and meadows, they have also been seen on the outskirts of a grazed farm, which Lampman said was shocking.

To protect livestock, it is important to check animals for ticks daily. It is also important to ensure that livestock being shipped to a particular farm is properly treated for ticks before it arrives at the final farm in New York.

Lampman is continuing to monitor the population by going to sites with infestations to conduct research and better understand how the population is expanding outside the coastal lands where it was once originally abundant in Long Island.

One of the main testing methods is using a tick rag.

“So we’re using that hunting style against them, we’re also not treated, we’re not wearing repellents as we’re going out there,” Lampman said. “We are using ourselves as bait to capture as many ticks as we possibly can.”

This method of researchers using themselves as bait allows for a tick rag to work. It is a long white rag attached to a brown horizontal rod. They go into an infested area and walk through with the rag, collecting ticks.

“Then we, then we bring this all back to the lab, and we throw these things underneath the microscope so that we can figure out exactly what kind we’re dealing with.”

One management method that was discussed was burning farms after the season, but no solution has proven to be permanent. Lampman made clear during the meeting that even treating lawns is only a temporary fix.

Even with Asian longhorned ticks, they are going to different areas and dropping off quickly. If grass is treated for ticks, it can only last until another tick is dropped off by a bird or a deer.

Humans can continue taking preventive measures to avoid getting bitten by Asian longhorned ticks, especially since it is still being researched how the ticks will actually affect humans.

That includes wearing permethrin-treated clothing with long sleeves, long socks and pants tucked into boots. While that is not ideal in the middle of the summer heat, it is important in grassland areas to gear up to avoid bites.

For more information about different species of ticks in New York State and the different impacts they can have, visit Cornell’s Integrated Pest Management page on the Asian longhorned tick.

 New York State has issued a statewide air quality advisory on July 15 due to the impact of the Canadian wildfire smoke. 

The DEC urges New Yorkers to reduce their exposure to air pollution - but as Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports, many farmers are still out on the fields.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires has once again moved across New York, creating hazy skies, reducing visibility and raising concerns about the health effects of breathing polluted air.

The smoke contains a mixture of gases and tiny particles produced as trees, vegetation and, in some cases, buildings and other structures burn. One of the greatest health concerns is fine particulate matter known as PM2.5.

These particles are small enough to travel deep into the lungs and may enter the bloodstream, potentially affecting more than just the respiratory system, according to Njoki Mwarumba, Ph.D., assistant professor of emergency management at Empire State University.

“The dangerous part here is the size of the particulate pollutant,” Mwarumba told Radio Catskill. “When you inhale that particle and it ends up in your lungs, it can also get into your bloodstream.”

Who is most at risk?

Wildfire smoke can affect anyone, but certain groups may experience symptoms sooner or more severely.

Those at greater risk include people with asthma or other respiratory conditions, older adults, pregnant people, young children and people with other underlying health conditions.

Mwarumba said people in those groups should begin taking precautions before air quality reaches levels considered unhealthy for the general population.

Even people without existing health problems may experience irritated eyes, a dry or sore throat, coughing or difficulty breathing when smoke levels are elevated.

Residents should pay attention to changes in their breathing and follow any guidance previously provided by their health care providers. Anyone experiencing serious difficulty breathing or other severe symptoms should seek medical attention.

Caregivers should also closely watch children and people with disabilities who may have difficulty explaining how they feel. Pets can also be affected by smoke and should spend less time outdoors during periods of poor air quality.

Check the Air Quality Index

Mwarumba recommends checking the Air Quality Index, or AQI, before exercising, working or spending extended periods outside.

The AQI uses a color-coded scale to describe pollution levels and possible health risks. Conditions can change throughout the day, so residents should check more than once, especially before outdoor activities.

People should also monitor information from local public health departments, emergency management offices and state officials.

Mwarumba said decisions should be based on several factors, including the AQI, official guidance, visible conditions and a person’s individual health needs.

Do masks help?

A properly fitted N95 or KN95 mask can reduce the amount of fine particulate matter a person inhales.

The mask should fit tightly over both the nose and mouth. Loose-fitting cloth or surgical masks generally do not provide the same level of protection against very small smoke particles.

However, wearing a mask does not eliminate all risk. During periods of especially poor air quality, people should limit the amount of time they spend outside, postpone strenuous activity and move exercise indoors when possible.

The precautions are particularly important for people whose jobs require them to work outdoors.

Protecting the air inside your home

Residents can also take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering their homes.

Doors and windows should remain closed when outdoor air quality is poor, as long as doing so does not create dangerously hot indoor temperatures. Air conditioners should be set to recirculate indoor air when possible instead of pulling smoke-filled air inside.

Portable air cleaners with HEPA filters may also help remove fine particles from indoor spaces.

When driving, motorists can close their windows and use the vehicle’s recirculation setting.

People without access to safe, cool indoor air should check whether their community has opened cooling centers, clean-air shelters or other public facilities.

Communities must prepare for more smoke events

Mwarumba said wildfire seasons are becoming longer and fires are burning with greater intensity. Although the fires may be hundreds or thousands of miles away, their smoke can travel across national borders and affect communities far from the flames.

She said governments and communities must prepare by strengthening emergency plans, improving public communication, protecting outdoor workers and making clean indoor air accessible to vulnerable residents.

Preparedness will require cooperation among public health agencies, emergency managers, elected officials, researchers, community organizations and private businesses.

“These challenges exist not just locally, but in our region and across different continents,” Mwarumba said. “They do affect us one way or another.”

Mwarumba encouraged residents to treat wildfire smoke as a continuing public-health concern rather than an isolated event.

Individuals can reduce their exposure by monitoring the AQI, limiting outdoor activity, wearing a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask when necessary and keeping indoor air as clean as possible.

The Ulster County Legislature voted to support the Ulster County for Fair Taxes Act. This tax plan would take a surcharge to wealthy residents to fund gaps in SNAP and Medicaid funding as the county anticipates being affected by federal funding cuts.