Mosquito and tick infections triple and are spreading rapidly, says CDC

Transitioning into the warmer weather months of the year means one thing – summer pests.  We are being warned it is not too early to start paying attention and taking steps now as these bugs of warm weather could reach epidemic levels.  This is news from new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  This data shows that the number of illnesses caused by mosquito, tick, and flea bites have tripled in the United States over the last 13 years.  More than 640,000 cases were reported across the country from 2004 to 2016, but many officials believe this number to be much higher.

Another troubling finding from this report was that during this time period, nine new germs spread by mosquitos and ticks were either discovered or introduced into the U.S. Diseases from ticks were reported the most and accounted for more than 60 percent of all cases reported.

The most common infections caused from mosquitos in the U.S. were West Nile Virus, dengue, and Zika, while Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis were the most common tick-borne disease found in the U.S.  Infections from fleas are not as common but the disease they cause the most was plague, a rare contagious bacterial disease that can be spread from infected fleas or contact with infected rodents and other wildlife.

Why is there an increase in these infections?

The reason for the rise of infections from tick, mosquitos and fleas is concerning.  One of the main factors appearing to play a prominent role in their increase is the continued globalization of global travel and trade, making it very easy and accessible for these pests to hitch a ride on an airplane, spreading them far and wide around the globe.  This is how the 2016 Zika outbreak spread.  Zika began in Brazil and then through international travel, it spread to other parts of South and North America after mosquitos bit infected travelers who unknowingly brought the virus home.

The continued problem of an increase in deer populations in residential areas has been another contributing factor for the surge in tick-borne infections.  Deer carry deer ticks, also called blacklegged ticks, which can cause Lyme disease.  However, just because you may never see deer where you live, do not believe you are safe from Lyme disease. Besides deer, these ticks also feed on small mice, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, birds, deer, and even on dogs and cats.

Even climate change has been blamed as part of the possible reason behind the rise in tick and mosquito-borne illnesses.  When temperatures increase, tick populations move further north which expands the number of people who can be affected.  Warmer temperatures also increase the length of tick and mosquito season. 

Steps to help prevent the spread of these infections

The best defense against infections from ticks, mosquitos and fleas is to have a good offensive plan in place.  When the public is educated on how best to prevent bites and control the spread of germs by these pests, this helps immensely in protecting each one of us from the spread of these diseases.

Every day, here are steps each of us can do to keep our families safe:

·      Use an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin.

·      Wear long-sleeved and long pants when outdoors and especially if walking in wooded areas or pastures.

·      Treat outdoor gear, such as boots, pants, socks, and tents, with permethrin or use permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

·      Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body upon return from tick-infested areas.  Parents should check their children for ticks.

·      Take steps to control ticks and fleas on pets.

·      Take steps to control mosquitos, ticks, and fleas inside and outside your home, including using screens on windows and air conditioning when available.  Once a week, empty out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash container to prevent mosquitos from breeding there.