- 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
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
