The number of Americans getting diseases transmitted by mosquito, tick and flea bites has more than tripled over a 12-year period, reaching more than 96,000 cases in 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday.
Such “vector-borne’’ diseases include Zika, West Nile, Lyme and chikungunya. “Vector” is the term that scientists use for an organism — such as a mosquito, tick or flea — that spreads pathogens.
These diseases “have confronted the U.S. in recent years, making a lot of people sick. And we don’t know what will threaten Americans next,” CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said in a statement. “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.”
Read this story now for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletter and get unlimited access to WABE.org
You can select your preferences for news and local content. We will never share your email address. Learn how your newsletter sign-up will support WABE and Public Media
