Ticks carry a surprising range of illnesses, and Lyme disease is only the best known of them. Depending on the species, a tick bite can also transmit anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, the rare but serious Powassan virus, and even set off a red-meat allergy.
Lyme disease is the first thing that comes to mind for a lot of people when it comes to tick-borne illness. But the threat list is longer than that. That doesn’t mean you’re powerless, though.
Lyme disease is spread by the blacklegged (deer) tick, and its range keeps expanding across southeast Michigan. The classic bullseye rash doesn't always show up, which is part of what makes it tricky to catch early.
Also carried by the blacklegged tick are: anaplasmosis and babesiosis, sometimes alongside Lyme disease in a single bite. The former brings flu-like illness, the latter attacks red blood cells and resembles malaria. You don’t want either.
Powassan virus comes from the same tick and deserves its own mention. It's rare but serious, and because it's a virus there's no specific treatment the way there is for the bacterial infections. It can also be passed from tick to host in minutes, unlike Lyme disease and most other types of illness. This is why it’s always a good idea to remove ticks as soon as you can.
The American dog tick, very common in Michigan grass and along trail edges, carries Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. These aren’t as common in Michigan, but the tick itself is one you will encounter often.
As if the above were not enough, there is also a lone star tick, which causes alpha-gal syndrome. It can make you severely allergic to red meat. It’s not as common in Michigan, but it does occasionally show up and its range is expanding northward.
No matter what kind of tick bit you, remove it promptly. Stay alert and contact a doctor if you notice flu-like symptoms or a rash. For most tick-borne illnesses, early action can help a lot when it comes to prognosis.
If you're tired of carrying that worry every time someone comes in from the yard, Mosquito Squad of Metro Detroit can help. Mosquito Squad treats the brushy, shaded zones where disease-carrying ticks wait, helping protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
