OSU Extension Warns of Summer Tick Bite Risks, Urges Outdoor Safety Steps

Q: A new tick-borne pathogen was discovered in Oklahoma. What is this emerging threat and who is most at risk?

The emerging threat is Alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS, an increasingly recognized tick-linked allergic condition in Oklahoma. It is most strongly associated with bites from the lone star tick, a common species in the state. AGS can cause people to develop an allergy to alpha-gal, a sugar found in most mammals, which means eating red meat or using some mammal-derived products can trigger reactions. The condition can be serious because symptoms are often delayed by several hours, making it harder to identify the cause. Reactions can include hives, stomach pain, nausea, swelling, breathing problems and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis. Oklahoma has treated it as a growing public health issue, and rates have been reported as especially high in the Choctaw Nation compared with state and national averages. Those most at risk are people with frequent exposure to tick habitat, especially hunters, hikers, campers, farmers, ranchers and other outdoor workers. Risk is higher in areas where lone star ticks are widespread and for people who get repeated bites, including from very small nymph ticks or clusters of larval ticks. Separately, researchers in southeastern Oklahoma also identified Panola Mountain Ehrlichia in Pushmataha County, a pathogen not previously detected there. But the more immediate and increasingly recognized human health threat highlighted in Oklahoma is AGS.

1 articles · Updated · KOKH FOX25 · Jun 24

Mason Huddleston of the Oklahoma County OSU Extension Office appeared on Living Oklahoma to outline tick-bite risks as summer outdoor activity increases.
The segment focused on how people can stay safe outdoors amid heightened concern about ticks during the season.
OSU Extension directed viewers to its online resources for more guidance on tick prevention and other related topics.