Signs of summer are starting to appear across the Island. Crowds at the well-stocked Jardin Mahoney garden center in Oak Bluffs were stirring into action on Mother’s Day to fix up flower beds, add new plantings, and fertilize the lawn. Across the Island, the sound of hammers and tablesaws can be heard, as contractors and homeowners are out in full force repairing damage from a hard winter. Businesses that shuttered for the colder months are reopening for what promises to be a busy season.
But as the Island gets busier and warmer, there’s a lurking concern on the minds of many Vineyarders and those planning to visit: ticks. And sprouting up along with the concerns, there is also the hope that the Island’s new and concerted efforts at mitigating and reducing the tick population will be successful.
If you live on the Island, you know that the prevalence of ticks and the threat of tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme, are a major concern, not just here but across the country. But recently, the Island appears to have a uniquely high concentration of lone star ticks and the allergy that can be triggered by their bite. This is known as alpha-gal syndrome, a condition that makes sufferers allergic to mammalian products, such as red meat, pork, dairy, gelatin, and really anything that is derived from hoofed animals. The allergy and its dietary restrictions have grabbed people’s attention. It’s one of the reasons that a new nonprofit, Tick Free MV, was founded to head an Island-wide effort to reduce deer and tick populations in the name of public health, and local healthcare providers Martha’s Vineyard Medical and Martha’s Vineyard Hospital expanded their facilities for patients afflicted with tick-borne conditions.
Part of Tick Free MV’s effort is addressing the Vineyard’s overpopulation of deer, one of the animals that the parasitic arachnids, especially the adults, latch onto to feed. A culling of the herd may be a key to solving the problem.
Earlier this year, the state expanded the hunting season, and declared alpha-gal a recognized condition that can now be officially reported to the Massachusetts Department of Health. This means Island health officials and the state can accurately chart the problem and eventually map out a strategy to solve it. Tick Free MV also commissioned a survey that took place in February and March that found the Vineyard has an average of 53 deer per square mile, which is far above the state standard, and that there are hot spots, particularly in parts of Aquinnah, Chilmark, and Chappaquiddick, that host much more.
Now we know for certain, although these numbers were always suspected, especially by Island hunters, how many of these hosts are available to ticks. But what to do next? Experts at a panel hosted by Tick Free MV about the survey late last month said eradication of deer, such as through hunting, isn’t a silver bullet for the Island’s tick problem. It would only help other tick mitigation efforts work more efficiently. And in terms of eradication, sterilization of the deer isn’t really an option for a place like the Island.
Based on the panel a few weeks ago, next steps are still in discussion. We support all of these efforts, and we’re invested in their success, because even our local paper isn’t immune to the tick problem.
Look, between last summer and this summer, although there are not fewer ticks, there are many more coordinated efforts — from the state, health officials, and the local community — to try to solve the problem.
Meanwhile, more likely than not, as summer approaches and more people come to the Island, a number of them will contract alpha-gal. So the Vineyard needs to be ready to communicate to visitors about the risks. That’s a new norm for us.
That conversation felt closer after a panel discussion led by local epidemiologist Lea Hamner, who specializes in tick-borne diseases and allergies like alpha-gal, last week. Among the focal points, Hamner highlighted how some Island restaurants have made and can make alterations to their menu to accommodate those with alpha-gal.
Alpha-gal isn’t going away anytime soon. It’s something we’re learning to live with and work around, but with that in mind, the Island should be more vocal that it’s here. The Vineyard community is making various efforts to help those already dealing with alpha-gal, including forming a support group and sharing information given by local officials, but an expanded outreach campaign will be important to prevent more people, from locals to visitors, from contracting it. And while there have been murmurings from some people about a hesitation to come to the Island because of it, we’re still likely to see an inundation of summer tourists who are attracted by the Vineyard’s charm. As they arrive, we share an obligation to know about and educate others on alpha-gal syndrome, and instruct them on how to be vigilant and avoid tick bites. This knowledge campaign, combined with the efforts to reduce the deer and tick populations, should give all of us some hope that this is the summer that we start to turn the corner on this issue.
Hope springs eternal, as they say.
If you or someone you know suffers from alpha-gal syndrome, a support group meets every third Thursday of the month from 5 to 6 pm at the Tri-Town Ambulance conference room, located at 399 Middle Road in Chilmark. No prior registration is required, and more information can be requested through Cheryl Kram, clinical services supervisor for the VNA of Cape Cod, at 508-957-7664. Virtual Tick Talks are held also through the Vineyard Haven library every Thursday from noon to 1 pm, and more information can be requested at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org. Your town’s health department can also provide more information about ticks.