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(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas are called vectors when they spread germs. A person bitten by one of these vectors who gets sick could have a vector-borne disease.
Some vector-borne diseases have been around for thousands of years, while others are more recent discoveries. Some can develop into serious, life-threatening illnesses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases of vector-borne diseases have increased significantly since 2004, with more than 1 million cases reported between 2001 and 2023 in the United States.
Certain groups of people are at a higher risk for vector-borne diseases than others:
- Children
- Older adults
- Dog owners
- Outdoor workers
- Outdoor enthusiasts
- People with weakened immune systems