CDC Report - Diseases Transmitted by Ticks and Mosquitoes on the Rise

In a recent article in MMWR on tick, flea and mosquito transmitted diseases from bacteria, viruses and parasites,  CDC reports an increasing number of cases in the years analyzed, 2014 to 2016.  These are categorized as vectorborne diseases.  Vectors are blood-feeding insects and ticks capable of transmitting pathogens between hosts.  From the report:

• Nearly 650,000 cases of vectorborne disease were reported during 2004–2016 
• There were 16 diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites transmitted through the bites of mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas were reported 
• Ticks - Tickborne diseases more than doubled in 13 years and were 77% of all vectorborne disease reports. Lyme disease accounted for 82% of all tickborne cases, but spotted fever rickettsioses, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis/ehrlichiosis cases also increased. 
• Mosquitoes - West Nile Virus (WNV) was the most commonly transmitted mosquitoborne disease in the continental United States. Its most notable epidemic during 2004–2016 occurred in 2012, especially in Texas. [Overall however, the cases of WNV have remained steady.]  Epidemics of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses were mostly confined to the U.S. territories
• Fleas - the plague, average about 7 cases per year.
• The data indicates persistent, locality-specific risks and a rising threat from emerging vectorborne diseases

As the NY Times article on the report states, "Farewell, carefree days of summer."

So you may be thinking....what about drinking alcohol, perhaps that will ward off bloodsuckers.  Unfortunately, alcohol may be an attractant for bloodsuckers.  In a study in the Journal of  the American Mosquito Control Association - "Our study demonstrated that percent mosquito landing on volunteers significantly increased after beer ingestion compared with before ingestion, showing clearly that drinking alcohol stimulates mosquito attraction. However, ethanol content in sweat and skin temperature did not show any correlation between alcohol ingestion and mosquito landings."

CDC MMWR
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6717e1.htm?s_cid=mm6717e1_e
Vital Signs: Trends in Reported Vectorborne Disease Cases — United States and Territories, 2004–2016

Concern for Zika Virus - Mosquito transmitted disease of South and Central America

The Zika virus is a growing concern as it spreads throughout South and Central America as well as the Pacific Islands.  The mosquito is the primary vector.  While for most people, the symptoms of the viral infection are mild , there is a concern for pregnant women who become infected in that it may lead to microcephaly, a rare neurological condition in which an infant's head is significantly smaller which is associated with incomplete brain development.  Yikes.  (But this has not yet been totally proven.)

Cases of infection in the US have been seen in those who have traveled to areas where the virus is present.

Damn mosquitos...West Nile Virus was bad enough, now we got something else to worry about.  Mosquitos also carry other diseases including Chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever and malaria.

 

CDC Website

Zika Virus

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html/

 

Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.

 

Outbreaks of Zika have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas. Because the Aedes species mosquitoes that spread Zika virus are found throughout the world, it is likely that outbreaks will spread to new countries. In December 2015, Puerto Rico reported its first confirmed Zika virus case. Locally transmitted Zika has not been reported elsewhere in the United States, but cases of Zika have been reported in returning travelers.