Health officials in Montana are raising concerns about the potential spread of Lyme disease after a deer tick was found on a bird dog in Bozeman. The tick, discovered after a pheasant hunting trip, was sent to a National Institutes of Health facility for analysis, where it was identified as a species traditionally found on the East Coast and Midwest. This particular tick may have been carrying not only Lyme disease but also relapsing fever, another tick-borne illness.
Although the discovery doesn’t confirm that Lyme disease has established a presence in Montana, it serves as a warning. Health experts are urging locals to be vigilant, particularly in Eastern Montana, where the tick was found. Marshall Bloom, a scientist with Rocky Mountain Laboratories, emphasized the need for awareness of these ticks in other parts of the state as well.
Deer ticks, which have historically been confined to the East and Midwest, are expanding their range westward, a trend scientists attribute to rising global temperatures. Warmer weather conditions are allowing ticks to remain active longer and survive in regions that were once too cold for them.
Lyme disease in humans can cause a range of symptoms, from fever and joint stiffness to more serious effects like heart irregularities and neurological damage if left untreated. In dogs, Lyme disease can lead to lameness, swollen lymph nodes, and in some cases, severe kidney disease.
The tick’s discovery in Montana is part of a broader pattern of Lyme disease expanding into new territories. In Canada, for instance, the risk of Lyme disease has significantly increased in provinces like Quebec and Manitoba over the past two decades.
Health authorities are urging residents of Montana to be aware of the risks, especially as these ticks move westward.