Officials worry that an exotic tick which was recently found in New York for the first time "could be setting its sights on devastating the entire Hudson Valley."

The “longhorned tick” which is native to Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asian was recently confirmed in multiple areas in Westchester County.

"A new type of invasive tick was recently found in Westchester County that could be setting its sights on devastating the entire Hudson Valley," New York State Senator Terrence Murphy said in a press release. "The 'longhorned tick' could pose a health threat to families, livestock, and pets."

The tick, whose scientific name is Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, was recently found in New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas and now Westchester County.

Senator Murphy and Senator Sue Serino are leading the call for a research study to learn more about this potentially dangerous tick.

"Could this be a new superbug? We don't know yet," Senator Murphy said. "The longhorned tick is not native to the U.S. We need to be able to determine if this species of tick will have a detrimental effect on the health of human beings and animals.

The longhorned tick has transmitted disease to humans in other parts of the world, however, more research is needed to determine whether this can happen in the United States.

Murphy and Serino are calling for a research study to learn more about the longhorned tick, including whether it can harm the health of humans & animals.

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