Friday, August 1, 2025
65 F
Beckley
More

    Longhorned tick confirmed in W.Va.'s eastern panhandle

    Longhorned ticks confirmed in Hardy County, W.Va. Photo courtesy USDA.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of the Longhorned tick in Hardy County in eastern West Virginia, according to the W.Va. Department of Agriculture.

    Advertisement

    Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks were collected from cattle on two farms in Hardy County near the Virginia border, according to W.Va. Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt.

    “We now have confirmation this tick is in West Virginia. Livestock producers and the public should take extra precautions,” Leonhardt said in a press release.

    “We will be working with veterinarians throughout the state on how to handle outbreaks.”

    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement

    In November 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture first identified the longhorned tick in New Jersey, the first confirmed presence in the U.S.

    West Virginia is the third state in which the deparment has identified the tick, Leonhardt said, indicating distribution is broader than thought.

    The department is not aware of any direct links between West Virginia and Virginia or New Jersey, he said.

    W.Va. State Veterinarian Dr. James Maxwell said farmers should contact his office if they notice unusual ticks.

    Advertisement

    “Livestock producers can work with their veterinarians to develop a tick prevention and control program," he said.

    The longhorned tick is non-native species that the USDA considers a serious threat to livestock.

    Heavy tick infestations may cause stunted growth, decreased production, and animal deaths. The species is known to carry several diseases prone to affect livestock and humans alike, some of which are not prevalent in the U.S.

    “This tick has been associated with bacterial and viral tickborne disease in other parts of the world,” said Miguella Mark-Carew, Director of Epidemiology and Prevention Services for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Public Health.

    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement

    “Like deer ticks that transmit Lyme disease, longhorned ticks are very small and can be difficult to find on people and animals. It is important to conduct full-body tick checks when returning from time outdoors in wooded areas.”

    The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is working with the W.Va. Department of Health and Human Resources, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, and the USDA to increase outreach activities, educate veterinary practitioners, and encourage tick submissions through the Veterinary Tick Submission Project, a tick-surveillance system.

    For questions regarding animals, please contact the WVDA’s Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214.

    For questions about tickborne diseases, call the state Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 304-558-5358 (extension 1) or visit its .

    Advertisement

    Sign up to receive a FREE copy of West Virginia Explorer Magazine in your email weekly. Sign me up!
    Will Reedy
    Will Reedyhttp://wvexplorer.com
    A consummate outdoorsman, Will Reedy has been hunting and fishing West Virginia since he was first able to wield rod and gun. He has been an outdoors writer for West Virginia Explorer since 2001.

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Hot this week

    August in West Virginia: When mountain customs come home

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — August in West Virginia is a...

    Wild and Wonderful: A journey through West Virginia’s most beautiful places

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There's a reason West Virginia is...

    Historic West Virginia heat waves and how the state can recover its coolness

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While known for its forests and...

    West Virginia to host first-ever Spartan Trifecta World Championship in the U.S.

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia will make history in...

    Nature’s classroom in the Kanawha Valley: A vibrant trail system blossoms in Buffalo

    BUFFALO, W.Va. — Among the fields and wetlands of...

    Topics

    August in West Virginia: When mountain customs come home

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — August in West Virginia is a...

    The five worst floods in West Virginia history: A Chronicle of Disaster

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Shaped by rugged mountains and winding...

    Splash into Fun: The Six Best Waterparks in West Virginia (2025 Guide)

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s natural beauty is world-famous,...

    Related Articles

    Popular Categories