Kansas Health and Agriculture Officials Warn of Invasive Tick
Kansas officials have issued a public notice after confirming the presence of the invasive Asian longhorned tick in Franklin County, posing a threat to animal and human health.
The tick, which is reddish-brown in color, is a hazard to cattle as it infects red and white blood cells, causing weakness, fever, loss of appetite, or death.
- Carries a variety of pathogens
- Can reproduce without mating, allowing it to establish populations in new areas efficiently
- Has transmitted a virus causing human hemorrhagic fever in Asia
The tick afflicts wildlife, pets, and livestock, and its presence is an emerging threat to animal and human health.
This is the first known detection of the Asian longhorned tick in Kansas.
Author's summary: Kansas officials warn of invasive Asian longhorned tick detection.