Connecticut records first human case of tick-borne illness in the Northeast

The first Northeast case of the tick-borne illness was reported in Connecticut, officials said.

Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis is a type of spotted fever that is spread through the bites of infected mites and ticks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

It is similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but with more mild symptoms, which may include headache, fever, rash, and muscle aches. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station,

According to CAES, the disease typically occurs in southern states, primarily Florida, but over the past 80 years it has rapidly spread to the East Coast.

Dr. Goudarz Molai, director of CAES’s Passive Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance Program, said R. The spread of Parker rickettsiosis can possibly be attributed to factors such as rising global temperatures, increased travel, and technological changes.

“It is estimated that rising temperatures related to climate change could lead to sustained range expansion and abundance of many tick species, increasing their importance as emerging threats to humans, pets and wildlife,” Molai said in a statement. Is.”

According to Molai, the Gulf Coast tick, the strain that causes R. parkeri, which spreads rickettsiosis, first made its home in Fairfield County in 2021. About 30% of all Gulf Coast ticks carry the disease.

Later, ticks spread to parts of New York and New Jersey with even higher infection rates in 2022 and 2024, respectively – although no human cases were reported until now.

Connecticut is no stranger to tick-borne diseases and even has a town named after Lyme disease, which was first discovered in the state.

Residents are encouraged to check for ticks, especially after spending time in wooded areas. Prevention strategies include using Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents and limiting skin exposure outdoors.