Diseases From Ticks And Mosquitoes On the Rise, Especially In NY

More people are getting sick from diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes, the Center for Disease Control said in a new report released this week. And New Yorkers are some of the worst hit.

The CDC report cataloged the number of diseases contracted from bites from ticks and mosquitoes between 2004 and 2016, and the numbers are startling — the number of people sickened by bites from the bugs has tripled during the time period. From 2015 to 2016, the number of cases nearly doubled from 55,660 to 96,075.

As weather gets warmer, diseases from these bugs are becoming more of a problem. Warmer weather makes it easier for mosquitoes and ticks to breed. In addition to higher numbers of the bugs, researchers have also found new diseases coming to the US that weren't here before, like Zika.

New Yorkers are also among the most-likely to be bitten in the country. According to CDC data, the Empire State is in the top 20 percent for reported cases for both tick- and mosquito-borne diseases. Over the 2004-16 time period, New York had 7,167 reported cases of illnesses from mosquito bites, the third-highest in the nation. And tick-borne are even worse, with 69,313 reported cases — the second highest in the US.

However, there are steps that can be taken to prevent being bitten by the bugs, especially ticks. Here are some tips from the New York State Department of Health:

• Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
• Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.
• Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors.
• Consider using insect repellent.
• Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
• Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.
• Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.
• Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets), and remove ticks promptly.

It's also important to check your pets for ticks if they're outside often. Not only can your pets get sick from tick bites, but the ticks can move from them to you.

Photo: CDC