More bad news about ticks

[MakoMike]

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/04/...n-connecticut/

Untreatable Virus Found In Ticks In Southern Connecticut

An emerging tick-borne disease is starting to show up in Bridgeport and Branford, a researcher says.

The Powassan virus has symptoms that are similar to those of Lyme disease, including headache, nausea and fever, WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported.

But once contracted, there’s no treatment for Powassan. In some cases, it can be fatal, said Dr. Theodore Andreadis, who heads The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

“These ticks will transmit this virus when they feed within a matter of hours, whereas with Lyme disease, for example, ticks generally have to feed up to two days before they’re capable of transmitting it,” Andreadis said.

Andreadis said there have been no reported human cases of the virus in the region, but added that, now more than ever, people who venture into wooded areas, where deer might carry ticks, should protect themselves with clothing.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many people who become infected with the Powassan virus do not develop any symptoms. The incubation period ranges from one week to one month.

The virus can infect the central nervous system and cause encephalitis and meningitis.

Approximately half of survivors develop neurological symptoms, such as recurrent headaches, muscle wasting and memory problems, according to the CDC.

There were 12 reported human cases nationally in 2013, the last year for when statistics are available.

[puppet]

Thanks for posting!

[ProfessorM]

Yeah read that last week. Scary stuff.
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[puppet]

What do you guys use for tick repellent?


I thought I would share the below....

Last year there seemed to be a spike in the amount of deer ticks around. I
found them crawling on me and even in my vehicle. Last year I had
contracted Lyme and didn't know I had it. Never found a tick embedded on me or a
bite mark. The worst part of it, the symptoms kicked in while I was fishing
Block Island. Cold sweats, head aches, fatigue, etc.... I thought i had
food poisoning or a stomach bug. Like and idiot, my plan was to fish through
it. As my trip was ending, my left foot started to swell up like a balloon.
Instead of driving home, I drove straight to my doctor. Nearly immediately
they identified it as Lyme.

I could have easily been picked up anywhere, but I sort of suspect
that I picked it up two weeks earlier when I was also
fishing Block Island. I remember doing a little bit of bushwacking thorough
the brush to get to a spot. The Doctor estimated the stage I was in
correlated with that earlier trip.

I was lucky. I went to the doctor early. It is documented that lyme can
lead to some really nasty stuff...nerve damage, and even death.

Prior to my incident with it I had done quite a bit of research and
knew about the disease and symptoms. I thought I knew what to
look for, but when I actually came down with it....I didn't identify it.
It could be that I was in denial, or not thinking clearly. Part of it, was
that I didn't have a mark on me. No bulls eye. no Rash...

Be careful out there, and if there is any doubt....get your blood tested for lyme.

The fact that this other Powassan thing is out there just makes matters worse and more critical in my eyes.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by puppet

What do you guys use for tick repellent?

The stuff to use is called (I know I'm going to misspell it) permethene (maybe someone can correct the spelling?) Spray it on your clothes and let it dry, you'll find dead ticks stuck to your clothes.

[ProfessorM]

I was down and out for the whole month of July last year with some tick borne disease. Thought I was going to die. In and out of emergency room 3 times and antibiotics for 6 weeks. Would not wish it on my worst enemy. No bullseye and no positive tests and I had lots of them. Permethrin is the stuff.
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[Dick Durand]

Agreed. Permethrin, vigilance, and common sense are necessary to prevent tick issues. I've been treated a couple of times after finding deer tick bullseyes. Subsequently, I've talked to tree service workers and guys installing electrical power lines across parts of the state, and they use permethrin on their clothing. Stay safe.

[Nebe]

You know what makes me mad? Someone at URI developed a Lyme vaccine but the FDA refuses to approve it.
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[Raven]

no they only approve the ones that have more side effects,,,,

thoughts...
so if a mosquito happens to bite an infected animal
even a Human let's say

are they not taking the disease airborne to the next recipient?
can you use permethrin on pets ....because they're the ones
dragging them in half the time.

I don't let my cat out NO MORE
cuz the bastid hops up on the bed at night
and i got to know that "F_cK i've got a tick in me FEELIN"
a little too well.... one year ....gettin the wife up for emergency
tick removal surgery at 2 am .... hate them things

[Finaddict]

perthene just on the clothes ... what about on the skin ... my daughter goes to summer camp, was diagnosed with lymes two years ago ... caught it early ... but want to ensure she doesn't get hit again ... her mother isn't really focused as she should be on protection ... that said ... I read that vinegar is good for repelling ticks (I know it sound weak), not sure it's all that valid ... thoughts on the skin ... as she is not going to wear long pants during summer camp.

[puppet]

I too have a young one...and want to protect her.

I guess there are some home remedies that might be more kid friendly.

seems like citrus and some aromatherapy oils are listed to work....like
Rose geranium oil.

These ticks just piss me off. Its not bad enough that I have to walk
around looking like a dork in waders or a wetsuit. Now, I also need to
smell like the church lady.

[JamesJet]

I actually stopped upland hunting as they just got to bad. My dog had anaplausmosis twice and ticks would be all over me and him certain days. Then there is the random time you get in the car, days later and feel one crwling on you...ticks creep me out for sure.
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[Cool Beans]

one thing to be aware of with permethrin, It is not known to rapidly harm most mammals or birds, but is dangerously toxic to fish and to cats: in cats it may induce hyperexcitability, tremors, seizures, and even death.

This is why I don't use it, I can risk accidentally bringing it into the house and harming my daughters cat. Especially since permethrin claims to last through several washings.

Vet Info

[puppet]

Originally Posted by Cool Beans

This is why I don't use it, I can risk accidentally bringing it into the house and harming my daughters cat. Especially since permethrin claims to last through several washings.

what do you use?

[Cool Beans]

Originally Posted by puppet

what do you use?

I generally use one of the deet type sprays in a hand pump squirt bottle especially on openings in the clothing (ie cuffs, pant legs and collar). I am in the woods often hunting, trout fishing or hiking. I also think the vitamin b6 and b12 help in repelling them as well as mosquitoes. I often drink an energy drink or 2 (high in b6 and b12) prior to going camping and even without deet I am generally left alone by mosquitoes.

The one time I went out in the woods last year without deet I did get bit by a tick, but I was lucky and it didn't infect me with Lyme.

After reading this on Deet I will be much more careful using it. As long as the cat isn't sprayed with Deet this shouldn't be an issue, but I wonder what the long term effects of either of these repellents have on us as well.

Clinical Signs of DEET Toxcity in This Cat
Within a day of application, the cat developed severe drooling, lethargy, and was leaking urine and not moving. The cat was mildly febrile, with a temperature of 103 (normal 99.5-102.5).
Initial blood work done by the veterinarian revealed an elevated blood glucose and mildly elevated kidney test, due to mild dehydration.
DEET application
in cats can result in drooling (e.g., hypersalivation), severe lethargy, and rarely central nervous system (CNS) signs like walking drunk, tremors, or even seizures.

[Raven]

since were on the subject........
of deterrents

-all of the mint family-
repel insects... these oils bother them big-time
the one to use for ticks -even do it yourself tick collars
is penny-royal - a member of the Mint family
you can simply soak a string with it and tie it around the dogs neck
or have a special collar treated with it...
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...tm%3B307%3B230
where to buy

[Raven]

about mints:
catnip, pennyroyal, spearmint, peppermint....
they all love a wet area and once you get them started
they'll never stop growing there.... and in the fall you
can un-zip all the mint seeds they look about this big . . . <-
and plant them in spring where you see other wet area's

[Raven]

there is hope however

read about an ancient strain of mushroom
that only grows in old growth forests
60-70 feet up in redwood trees....
an incredible discovery yielding anti VIRAL substances

Agarikon contains antiviral molecules new to science

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-s...b_1861947.html

[Fly Rod]

The state just does not provide much money to spray or what ever.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/0...n_7072364.html

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by Cool Beans

one thing to be aware of with permethrin, It is not known to rapidly harm most mammals or birds, but is dangerously toxic to fish and to cats: in cats it may induce hyperexcitability, tremors, seizures, and even death.

This is why I don't use it, I can risk accidentally bringing it into the house and harming my daughters cat. Especially since permethrin claims to last through several washings.

Vet Info

This is not meant to sound insensitive to the cat but in the big picture of things if it protects you from potentially dying from tick born illness I am sure your daughter would be less upset over loosing her cat than you!

This tick BS is really starting to get scary. My sis and hubby went scouting in the woods last fall with their son and pointer. Came back with over 200 ticks among them.....if this happened to me I would probably be in an insane asylum over it!

[JohnR]

Ticks suck.

Has anmyone used those services were you have a yard sprayed? Success?

[Nebe]

If you are smart, you buy a quart of permethrin and some cotton gauze, some small cut up rags and a bunch of cardboard tubes. Soak the cotton and rags and stuff in the tubes and leave them along stone walls, under sheds or near any place that you know mice live. The mice will grab this stuff for their nests and then the permethrin will start doing its job and will start killing any deer ticks that attach to them. Over a year or 2 you can totally collapse a tick population in your area by doing this. Mice and other small rodents are the number one vehicle for the spread of Lyme.
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[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by Nebe

If you are smart, you buy a quart of permethrin and some cotton gauze, some small cut up rags and a bunch of cardboard tubes. Soak the cotton and rags and stuff in the tubes and leave them along stone walls, under sheds or near any place that you know mice live. The mice will grab this stuff for their nests and then the permethrin will start doing its job and will start killing any deer ticks that attach to them. Over a year or 2 you can totally collapse a tick population in your area by doing this. Mice and other small rodents are the number one vehicle for the spread of Lyme.
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Truth

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Ticks suck.

Has anmyone used those services were you have a yard sprayed? Success?

I had my property sprayed a couple of times, seemed to be effective. I used an outfit called "the tick doctor."