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Illnesses caused by mosquitoes, ticks and fleas have tripled in the USA in the past 13 years, causing concern as Americans gear up for outdoor activities this summer, according to a news release from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report issued this week.

The 六九色堂 Endeavour looks at the details of the report, what diseases are on the rise, what is causing the problem, and how doctors and medical students can help Americans protect themselves.

9 New Germs Spread by Mosquitoes & Ticks

The CDC says diseases spread by mosquito, tick and flea bites tripled in the USA from the period of 2004 to 2016, with more than 640,000 cases.

鈥淣ine new germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks were discovered or introduced into the United States during this time,鈥� the release said, referring to the report issued by the CDC.

鈥淶ika, West Nile, Lyme, and chikungunya鈥攁 growing list of diseases caused by the bite of an infected mosquito, tick, or flea鈥攈ave confronted the U.S. in recent years, making a lot of people sick. And we don鈥檛 know what will threaten Americans next,鈥� said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. in the release. 鈥淥ur nation鈥檚 first lines of defense are state and local health departments and vector control organizations, and we must continue to enhance our investment in their ability to fight against these diseases.鈥�

America Must Be 鈥楤etter Prepared鈥�

The USA needs to be 鈥渂etter prepared to face this public health threat,鈥� the report said.

Sixteen vector-borne (arthropods like mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies) illnesses, all reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System from 2004 to 2016 were analyzed by CDC scientists. They found the most common tick-borne diseases in the U.S., as of 2016, were Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis (two illnesses similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever but often without a rash).  The report noted reported tick-borne diseases 鈥渕ore than doubled in 13 years,鈥� and while diseases from ticks vary from region to region of the country 鈥渢hose regions are expanding.鈥�

West Nile, dengue and Zika (particularly dangerous for pregnant women because it causes babies to be born with birth defects) were the most common mosquito-borne viruses. Plague鈥攁lthough quite rate鈥攚as the most common disease caused by a bite form an infected flea.

Infographic: Courtesy of CDC

Cause of Increase

The CDC cites numerous reasons for the increase in vector-borne diseases, noting that 鈥渕osquitoes and ticks and the germs they spread are increasing in number and moving into new areas. As a result, more people are at risk for infection.鈥�

Zika, a mosquito-borne illness that has received a lot of media coverage for outbreaks in Florida, Puerto Rico and Texas, is troublesome because people often get infected by a mosquito in a foreign country and then 鈥渦nknowingly transport it home.鈥�

How Doctors & Med Students Can Help Patients Protect Themselves

The CDC has listed ways the public can be protected, including the following:

• 鈥楿se an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent. [闭鈥�
• 鈥淲ear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.鈥�
• 鈥淭reat items, such as boots, pants, socks, and tents, with permethrin or use permethrin-treated clothing and gear.鈥�
• 鈥淭ake steps to control ticks and fleas on pets.鈥�
• 鈥淔ind and remove ticks daily from family and pets. [闭.鈥�
• 鈥淭ake steps to control mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas inside and outside your home. [ and 闭.鈥�

Infographic: Courtesy of CDC

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