Local vector control speak on rise of tick & mosquito-borne infections in the U.S.
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control shows the number of tick and mosquito-borne infections has surged in the country, in fact, they say it’s tripled from 2004 to 2016.
According to the CDC, in 2016 nearly 100,000 diseases were caused by bites from mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
“That’s something to be concerned about because when it comes to tick-borne diseases, the only prevention is mosquito control and what people are doing to protect themselves,” Jeremy Wittie, general manager of the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.
Wittie said his organization is doing all it can to make sure they stay ahead of the problem.
“One thing the district made a commitment to several years ago was bringing in our own lab and so last year, we tested a record number of mosquito samples. Over 5,000 samples, which has never been done before here, and that has really given our surveillance team, our public outreach time, as well as our operations team to really focus on where we need to be throughout the season to make the biggest impact on the mosquitoes that are infected,” Wittie said.
According to the CDC report, the reason for the spike in numbers might be due to longer summers and shorter winters, but Wittie says that’s not the case for the valley.
“We’re a unique area when it comes to insects and mosquitoes, in particular, so in the valley, while increases in temperature and lengthening of the season is felt in other areas, I mean year round here in the Coachella Valley it’s mosquito season,” Wittie said.
But there is some good news.
“This far this year in the Coachella Valley, we haven’t detected any mosquito samples test positive for any mosquito-borne diseases,” Wittie said.
Wittie also offered the community a number of ways they can help control this problem moving forward.
“People have to take it seriously. An infected mosquito isn’t glowing red or anything you have to make an assumption that all mosquitoes could be infected and take precautions,” Wittie said.
Wittie’s organization has a campaign ‘Dump and Drain’ which aims to remind anyone to get rid of standing water.
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