With concerns about a tick-borne illness and its impact on area cattle, the Lyon County Extension Office has a special seminar ahead next week.
Ranchers and other ag producers are encouraged to attend a special seminar on Asian longhorned tick and the disease theileriosis, which can cause anemia, anorexia, difficulty breathing and, in some cases, sudden death. The tick was first noted in Kansas last fall after a dog was treated in Franklin County, and there are concerns about tick and virus spread across the Flint Hills.
Besides theileriosis in livestock, the Asian longhorned tick can also call several diseases affecting humans, thrombocytopenia syndrome, a potentially fatal hemorrhagic fever; Bourbon virus and ehrlichiosis, which have symptoms ranging from fever to vomiting; and Japanese spotted fever, which is typically not life-threatening but can lead to severe complications like organ failure.
The seminar on Tuesday will feature presenters like K-State Assistant Professor of Entomology Dr Cassandra Olds, Lyon County Extension Ag Agent Brian Rees and Lyon-Chase County Farm Service Agency Director Bill Reeder. Conversations will include current knowledge of the tick and related diseases, as well as how things spread, signs and symptoms, pasture management and loss documentation.
The conference begins at noon Tuesday at the Fairgrounds Bowyer Building. The seminar is free to attend. Call 620-341-3220 to RSVP.
Rees will join KVOE’s Newsmaker segment at 7:20 am Monday with more information.
