Summer is almost here and that means the biting bugs will be at it again. When the weather starts to warm up, everyone begins gathering for outdoor activities. The kids go out to play sports and summer BBQ’s are in full effect. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) warns that now, more than ever we need to be diligent about avoiding vector insects such as ticks and fleas etc. The reported number of vector-borne diseases have more than tripled in the United States since 2004. According to the World Health Organization, vector-borne diseases currently account for about 17% of reported infectious diseases around the globe, resulting in more than 700,000 deaths annually! These diseases come from blood sucking insects that have the capability to spread pathogens, parasites, bacteria or viruses through their painful bites such as mosquitoes, ticks and fleas.
Tick Borne Diseases in Humans
Ticks are known to transmit, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, Tularemia, Powassan Virus, Ehrlichiosis and the list goes on and on. Tick-borne diseases accounted for 75% of all reported vector-borne diseases with 82% of those cases testing positive for Lyme disease.
Can Humans Get Sick from Flea Bites?
Fleas will almost always choose our pets instead of us. However, if they can’t find a viable host, they will bite humans and are well known for their role in transmitting diseases such as the dreaded Plague, Murine Typhus, Mycoplasma Haemofelis and Tapeworms. The plague is still the most common disease transmitted by fleas today.
Why are there so Many Ticks in the Northeast?
Since 2004, 9 new vector-borne pathogens have been discovered here in the United States. Scientists believe this influx in Vector-borne diseases is due to the rise in temperatures we have been experiencing which has allowed ticks to travel farther North then they ever would have in the past. We are also seeing a higher rate of growth in people who have recently moved into more isolated areas where ticks reside. Increases to international travel and trade, change in agricultural practices play a role in the influx as well.
Backyard Tick Control
First you will want to call Stewart Termite and Pest Control to come and do a thorough inspection of your yard to check for the presence of these pests around your home. Various scientific advancements are being made in the pest control world to aid in the control of the disease carrying vector pests. Stewart Termite and Pest Control will help you set up a unique pest control plan to suit your specific pest control needs. Call us today and schedule your pest inspection to avoid the summer swarms!