From 2004 to 2016, illnesses from mosquito, tick and flea bites tripled in the U.S., with 642,602 cases reported during the 13-year period, according to a CDC report released May 1.
The report is the CDC's first summary that collectively examines data trends for all nationally notifiable diseases caused by bites from an infected mosquito, tick or flea.
"Zika, West Nile, Lyme and chikungunya — a growing list of diseases caused by the bite of an infected mosquito, tick or flea — have confronted the U.S. in recent years, making a lot of people sick. And we don't know what will threaten Americans next," said CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD. "Our nation's 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."
Here are six report findings.
1. To identify trends, CDC scientists analyzed data reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System for 16 notifiable vector-borne diseases from 2004 through 2016. Since many infections go unreported or unrecognized, it is difficult to estimate the overall cost and burden of these diseases, the report noted.
2. In 2016, the most common tickborne diseases in the U.S. were Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis. The most common mosquito-borne viruses in 2016 were West Nile, dengue and Zika. Although it is rare, plague was the most common disease reported from the bite of an infected flea.
3. During the 13-year period, nine new germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks were discovered or introduced into the U.S.
4. The number of reported tickborne diseases, which more than doubled in the 13-year period, accounted for over 60 percent of all reported mosquito-borne, tickborne and fleaborne disease cases.
5. Additionally, during the 13-year period, the report noted seven new germs spread through the bite of an infected tick were discovered or recognized in the U.S. as being able to infect people.
6. "Reducing the spread of these diseases and responding to outbreaks effectively will require additional capacity at the state and local level for tracking, diagnosing and reporting cases; controlling mosquitoes and ticks; and preventing new infections; and for the public and private sector to develop new diagnostic and vector control tools," the report reads.
To view the full report, click here.