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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 4th May 2018
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Concerns over US rise in vector-borne diseases
Tick-borne diseases more than doubled from 2004-2016, accounting for more than 60 per cent of all reported vector-borne diseases.
CDC report says the country must be ‘better prepared’ 

Illnesses from mosquito, tick and flea bites have tripled in the US over a period of 13 years, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Scientists looked at data from national surveillance of 16 notifiable diseases from 2004 to 2016. There were more than 640,000 reported cases of disease as a result of bites from infected mosquitos, fleas and ticks.

Tick-borne diseases more than doubled during this time period, accounting for more than 60 per cent of all reported vector-borne diseases.

The most common tick-borne diseases in the final year of the study were Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis. Meanwhile, West Nile, dengue and zika accounted for the largest number of mosquito-borne disease. Despite being rare, plague was the most common disease arising from the bite of an infected flea.

Nine new infections spread by mosquitos or ticks were discovered or introduced to the US during this time.

CDC’s report said the US must be better prepared to face the growing public health threat posed by these diseases.

There are thought to be many reasons for the increase. Mosquitos, ticks and the infections they spread are rising in number and moving to new areas, while overseas travel and commerce are more common than ever before, meaning travellers can unwittingly import diseases such as Zika.

“The data show that we’re seeing a steady increase and spread of tick-borne diseases, and an accelerating trend of mosquito-borne diseases introduced from other parts of the world,” said Lyle Petersen, director of the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases in the CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.

“We need to support state and local health agencies responsible for detecting and responding to these diseases and controlling the mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas that spread them.”

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise 100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.