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New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2017, state and local health departments reported a record number of cases of tickborne disease to CDC. Cases of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis / ehrlichiosis, spotted fever rickettsiosis (including Rocky mountain spotted fever), babesiosis, tularemia, and Powassan virus disease all increased-from 48,610 cases in 2016 to 59,349 cases in 2017. These data capture only a fraction of the number of people with tickborne illnesses. Under-reporting of all the tickborne diseases is common, so the number of people is much higher.
This increase follows an accelerating trend of tickborne diseases reported in the United States. Between 2004 and 2016, the number of reported cases of tickborne disease doubled, and researchers discovered seven new tickborne pathogens that infected people. The new data is from the Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS). NNDSS tracks and monitors diseases of public health in the United States, including six reportable tickborne disease groups.
While the reason for this increase is unclear, a number of factors affect each year's occurrence, including temperature, rainfall, humidity, and host populations such as mice and other animals. Tick densities in any year vary by region, state, and county. Numbers of reported disease cases are also affected by healthcare provider awareness, testing, and reporting practices. Finally, during any given year, people may or may not notice changes in tick populations depending on the amount of time they spend.
According to a recent CDC Vital Signs, the United States is not fully prepared for these threats. Local and state health departments and vector control organizations growing up to respond to ticks and tickborne diseases. Proven and publicly accepted methods to prevent ticks and tickborne diseases.
Until now, you can reduce your chances of being caught by:
• Using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone gold. Always follow product instructions.
• Treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
• Checking your body and clothing for ticks of possible tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Place tick-infested clothes in a bathroom on a hot day.
• Showering soon after being outdoors. Ticking in the eyes of a baby and having a baby. Showering can help wash off unattached ticks and is a good time to do a tick check.
resources
• 2017 Tickborne Disease Surveillance Data: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/data-summary/index.html
• Notifiable Infectious Diseases and Conditions Annual Data Tables: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nndss/infectious-tables.html#tabs-2-2
• Information about Lyme disease surveillance: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/survfaq.html
• Digital Press Kit, Lyme and other tickborne diseases: https://www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/diseases-and-conditions/lyme-disease/index.html
• Vital Signs, Illnesses on the Mosquito, tick, and flea bites: https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/vector-borne/index.html
• CDC Ticks website: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/
Source: CDC
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