Tick that causes meat allergy, other rare virus is spreading: What symptoms to watch for

(NEXSTAR) – A tick capable of making its victims allergic to meat and dairy – among other items – and spreading a virus that has no known cure may be reaching new areas, officials warn.

The lone star tick had primarily been found in the South, but, in recent years, the species has been pushing northward. The latest data from the CDC shows the tick has been confirmed in more than 30 states, an increase from just a few years ago.

Experts previously determined the lone star tick was returning to the Northeast and Great Lakes – regions it had almost entirely disappeared from – thanks in part to shorter cold snaps during winter, the spread of invasive plants, and an increase in the deer population.

Meanwhile, the CDC is already warning of an increase in emergency department visits related to tick bites, prompting an early reminder to protect against the pests. The data doesn’t indicate which types of ticks are guilty, but the Midwest and Northeast have reported the most cases so far.

Here’s what to know about the lone star tick, and the serious conditions it’s capable of causing.

What does the lone star tick look like?

On the surface, they look like most other ticks.

Adult females are the largest, sporting a single white dot on their backs. Males are smaller with black lines on their backs.

An adult female lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) crawls on a person’s wristwatch, 2023. Image courtesy CDC. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Dorsal view of a female lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), 2006. Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / Dr Amanda Loftis, Dr William Nicholson, Dr Will Reeves, Dr Chris Paddock. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

The lone star tick, Amblyomma Americanum, crawling on my fingers as I wander through a local wetlands. (Getty)

Close up of lone star tick in macro on a male finger (Getty)

Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) on human skin (Getty)

Lone star ticks are described as fast-moving, aggressive biters.

Where has the lone star tick been found?

In more than half of........

© The Hill